diff --git a/sphinx/ext/autodoc/importer.py b/sphinx/ext/autodoc/importer.py
index 2082a714036..6a90c3da3fe 100644
--- a/sphinx/ext/autodoc/importer.py
+++ b/sphinx/ext/autodoc/importer.py
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@
 from __future__ import annotations
 
 import importlib
+import sys
 import traceback
 import typing
 from typing import TYPE_CHECKING, Any, Callable, NamedTuple
@@ -82,13 +83,18 @@ def import_object(modname: str, objpath: list[str], objtype: str = '',
         objpath = list(objpath)
         while module is None:
             try:
+                orig_modules = frozenset(sys.modules)
                 try:
                     # try importing with ``typing.TYPE_CHECKING == True``
                     typing.TYPE_CHECKING = True
                     module = import_module(modname, warningiserror=warningiserror)
                 except ImportError:
                     # if that fails (e.g. circular import), retry with
-                    # ``typing.TYPE_CHECKING == False``
+                    # ``typing.TYPE_CHECKING == False`` after reverting
+                    # changes made to ``sys.modules`` by the failed try
+                    for m in frozenset(sys.modules) - orig_modules:
+                        sys.modules.pop(m)
+
                     typing.TYPE_CHECKING = False
                     module = import_module(modname, warningiserror=warningiserror)
                 finally:
diff --git a/tests/roots/test-ext-autodoc/circular_import/__init__.py b/tests/roots/test-ext-autodoc/circular_import/__init__.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..402678d6706
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/roots/test-ext-autodoc/circular_import/__init__.py
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+from circular_import.c import SomeClass
diff --git a/tests/roots/test-ext-autodoc/circular_import/a.py b/tests/roots/test-ext-autodoc/circular_import/a.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..97ad9d8ab1b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/roots/test-ext-autodoc/circular_import/a.py
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+X = 42
diff --git a/tests/roots/test-ext-autodoc/circular_import/b.py b/tests/roots/test-ext-autodoc/circular_import/b.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..c9b8ad54249
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/roots/test-ext-autodoc/circular_import/b.py
@@ -0,0 +1,4 @@
+import typing
+
+if typing.TYPE_CHECKING:
+    from circular_import import SomeClass
diff --git a/tests/roots/test-ext-autodoc/circular_import/c.py b/tests/roots/test-ext-autodoc/circular_import/c.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..239b3acb37a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/roots/test-ext-autodoc/circular_import/c.py
@@ -0,0 +1,8 @@
+import circular_import.a
+import circular_import.b
+
+assert hasattr(circular_import, "a")
+
+
+class SomeClass:
+    X = circular_import.a.X
diff --git a/tests/roots/test-ext-autodoc/index.rst b/tests/roots/test-ext-autodoc/index.rst
index eb10829dcff..4f7378516da 100644
--- a/tests/roots/test-ext-autodoc/index.rst
+++ b/tests/roots/test-ext-autodoc/index.rst
@@ -13,3 +13,5 @@
 .. autofunction:: target.overload.sum
 
 .. autofunction:: target.typehints.tuple_args
+
+.. automodule:: circular_import