diff --git a/src_c/surface.c b/src_c/surface.c
index ada724a9a3..76ff3bd785 100644
--- a/src_c/surface.c
+++ b/src_c/surface.c
@@ -52,10 +52,10 @@ typedef enum {
 } SurfViewKind;
 
 /* To avoid problems with non-const Py_buffer format field */
-static char FormatUint8[] = "B";
-static char FormatUint16[] = "=H";
-static char FormatUint24[] = "3x";
-static char FormatUint32[] = "=I";
+#define FormatUint8 "B"
+#define FormatUint16 "=H"
+#define FormatUint24 "3x"
+#define FormatUint32 "=I"
 
 typedef struct pg_bufferinternal_s {
     PyObject *consumer_ref; /* A weak reference to a bufferproxy object   */
@@ -4597,69 +4597,53 @@ pgSurface_Blit(pgSurfaceObject *dstobj, pgSurfaceObject *srcobj,
 
 static PyMethodDef _surface_methods[] = {{NULL, NULL, 0, NULL}};
 
-MODINIT_DEFINE(surface)
+int
+exec_surface(PyObject *module)
 {
-    PyObject *module, *apiobj;
-    static void *c_api[PYGAMEAPI_SURFACE_NUMSLOTS];
-
-    static struct PyModuleDef _module = {PyModuleDef_HEAD_INIT,
-                                         "surface",
-                                         DOC_SURFACE,
-                                         -1,
-                                         _surface_methods,
-                                         NULL,
-                                         NULL,
-                                         NULL,
-                                         NULL};
-
     /* imported needed apis; Do this first so if there is an error
        the module is not loaded.
     */
     import_pygame_base();
     if (PyErr_Occurred()) {
-        return NULL;
+        return -1;
     }
     import_pygame_color();
     if (PyErr_Occurred()) {
-        return NULL;
+        return -1;
     }
     import_pygame_rect();
     if (PyErr_Occurred()) {
-        return NULL;
+        return -1;
     }
     import_pygame_bufferproxy();
     if (PyErr_Occurred()) {
-        return NULL;
+        return -1;
     }
     _IMPORT_PYGAME_MODULE(surflock);
     if (PyErr_Occurred()) {
-        return NULL;
+        return -1;
     }
 
     /* type preparation */
     if (PyType_Ready(&pgSurface_Type) < 0) {
-        return NULL;
+        return -1;
     }
 
-    /* create the module */
-    module = PyModule_Create(&_module);
-    if (module == NULL) {
-        return NULL;
-    }
+    PyObject *apiobj;
+    static void *c_api[PYGAMEAPI_SURFACE_NUMSLOTS];
+
     if (pg_warn_simd_at_runtime_but_uncompiled() < 0) {
-        Py_DECREF(module);
-        return NULL;
+        return -1;
     }
+
     if (PyModule_AddObjectRef(module, "SurfaceType",
                               (PyObject *)&pgSurface_Type)) {
-        Py_DECREF(module);
-        return NULL;
+        return -1;
     }
 
     if (PyModule_AddObjectRef(module, "Surface",
                               (PyObject *)&pgSurface_Type)) {
-        Py_DECREF(module);
-        return NULL;
+        return -1;
     }
 
     /* export the c api */
@@ -4668,14 +4652,40 @@ MODINIT_DEFINE(surface)
     c_api[2] = pgSurface_Blit;
     c_api[3] = pgSurface_SetSurface;
     apiobj = encapsulate_api(c_api, "surface");
-    if (PyModule_AddObject(module, PYGAMEAPI_LOCAL_ENTRY, apiobj)) {
-        Py_XDECREF(apiobj);
-        Py_DECREF(module);
-        return NULL;
+    if (PyModule_Add(module, PYGAMEAPI_LOCAL_ENTRY, apiobj) < 0) {
+        return -1;
     }
+
     if (PyModule_AddObjectRef(module, "_dict", pgSurface_Type.tp_dict)) {
-        Py_DECREF(module);
-        return NULL;
+        return -1;
     }
-    return module;
+
+    return 0;
+}
+
+MODINIT_DEFINE(surface)
+{
+    static PyModuleDef_Slot surf_slots[] = {
+        {Py_mod_exec, &exec_surface},
+#if PY_VERSION_HEX >= 0x030c0000
+        {Py_mod_multiple_interpreters,
+         Py_MOD_MULTIPLE_INTERPRETERS_NOT_SUPPORTED},  // TODO: see if this can
+                                                       // be supported later
+#endif
+#if PY_VERSION_HEX >= 0x030d0000
+        {Py_mod_gil, Py_MOD_GIL_USED},  // TODO: support this later
+#endif
+        {0, NULL}};
+
+    static struct PyModuleDef _module = {PyModuleDef_HEAD_INIT,
+                                         "surface",
+                                         DOC_SURFACE,
+                                         0,
+                                         _surface_methods,
+                                         surf_slots,
+                                         NULL,
+                                         NULL,
+                                         NULL};
+
+    return PyModuleDef_Init(&_module);
 }