diff --git a/CHANGES.rst b/CHANGES.rst
index a27a6b40..de58d1f0 100644
--- a/CHANGES.rst
+++ b/CHANGES.rst
@@ -23,6 +23,11 @@
 7.1.1 (2024-10-23)
 ==================
 
+- Disable automatically using C speedups when Python 3.13 is used
+  in freethreading mode for the time being (at least until the C
+  extension gains support for freethreading mode).
+  (`#330 <https://github.com/zopefoundation/zope.interface/issues/330>`_)
+
 - Fix segmentation faults in `weakrefobject.c` on Python 3.12 and 3.13.
   (`#323 <https://github.com/zopefoundation/zope.interface/issues/323>`_)
 
diff --git a/src/zope/interface/_compat.py b/src/zope/interface/_compat.py
index 38032953..6549da85 100644
--- a/src/zope/interface/_compat.py
+++ b/src/zope/interface/_compat.py
@@ -77,8 +77,10 @@ def _should_attempt_c_optimizations():
     """
     Return a true value if we should attempt to use the C optimizations.
 
-    This takes into account whether we're on PyPy and the value of the
-    ``PURE_PYTHON`` environment variable, as defined in `_use_c_impl`.
+    This takes into account whether we're on PyPy, whether you're using
+    a freethreading version of Python 3.13+ (where importing
+    the speedups would enable GIL) and the value of the ``PURE_PYTHON``
+    environment variable, as defined in `_use_c_impl`.
     """
     is_pypy = hasattr(sys, 'pypy_version_info')
 
@@ -86,6 +88,8 @@ def _should_attempt_c_optimizations():
         return True
     if is_pypy:
         return False
+    if sys.version_info >= (3, 13) and not sys._is_gil_enabled():
+        return False
     return not _c_optimizations_ignored()