I am talking about these lines: https://github.com/python/cpython/blob/a36235d5c7863a85fa323b2048d3d254116a958e/Python/ceval.c#L4722-L4734 They are not ever called, because after https://github.com/python/cpython/pull/18141 all `**` dict unpacking is handled in `DICT_MERGE` opcode. This was found while working on https://github.com/python/cpython/issues/94808 but I think that it deserves a separate issue. PR is on its way.