diff --git a/random.c b/random.c
index 61de6bc7aa..7567d13dd7 100644
--- a/random.c
+++ b/random.c
@@ -261,7 +261,8 @@ const rb_data_type_t rb_random_data_type = {
 static void
 random_mt_free(void *ptr)
 {
-    if (ptr != default_rand())
+    rb_random_mt_t *rnd = rb_ractor_local_storage_ptr(default_rand_key);
+    if (ptr != rnd)
 	xfree(ptr);
 }
 
diff --git a/version.h b/version.h
index b9b3d4abfd..25c265ffaa 100644
--- a/version.h
+++ b/version.h
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@
 # define RUBY_VERSION_MINOR RUBY_API_VERSION_MINOR
 #define RUBY_VERSION_TEENY 0
 #define RUBY_RELEASE_DATE RUBY_RELEASE_YEAR_STR"-"RUBY_RELEASE_MONTH_STR"-"RUBY_RELEASE_DAY_STR
-#define RUBY_PATCHLEVEL 43
+#define RUBY_PATCHLEVEL 44
 
 #define RUBY_RELEASE_YEAR 2021
 #define RUBY_RELEASE_MONTH 3