@@ -232,6 +232,10 @@ The :c:member:`~PyTypeObject.tp_traverse` handler must have the following type:
    object argument.  If *visit* returns a non-zero value that value should be
    returned immediately.
 
+   The traversal function must not have any side effects.  Implementations
+   may not modify the reference counts of any Python objects nor create or
+   destroy any Python objects.
+
 To simplify writing :c:member:`~PyTypeObject.tp_traverse` handlers, a :c:func:`Py_VISIT` macro is
 provided.  In order to use this macro, the :c:member:`~PyTypeObject.tp_traverse` implementation
 must name its arguments exactly *visit* and *arg*:

@@ -1569,6 +1569,11 @@ and :c:data:`PyType_Type` effectively act as defaults.)
        but the instance has no strong reference to the elements inside it, as they
        are allowed to be removed even if the instance is still alive).
 
+   .. warning::
+      The traversal function must not have any side effects.  It must not
+      modify the reference counts of any Python objects nor create or destroy
+      any Python objects.
+
    Note that :c:func:`Py_VISIT` requires the *visit* and *arg* parameters to
    :c:func:`!local_traverse` to have these specific names; don't name them just
    anything.