diff --git a/src/sage/modules/free_module_element.pyx b/src/sage/modules/free_module_element.pyx
index 5bd5b408417..a64330475e8 100644
--- a/src/sage/modules/free_module_element.pyx
+++ b/src/sage/modules/free_module_element.pyx
@@ -115,6 +115,8 @@ This is a test from :issue:`20211`::
 cimport cython
 from cpython.slice cimport PySlice_GetIndicesEx
 
+from cysignals.signals cimport sig_on, sig_off
+
 from sage.categories.rings import Rings
 from sage.misc.superseded import deprecated_function_alias
 from sage.structure.sequence import Sequence
@@ -1928,7 +1930,10 @@ cdef class FreeModuleElement(Vector):   # abstract base class
             sage: vector(SR, [1/2,2/5,0]).get(0)                                        # needs sage.symbolic
             1/2
         """
-        return self.get_unsafe(i)
+        sig_on()
+        res = self.get_unsafe(i)
+        sig_off()
+        return res
 
     def __setitem__(self, i, value):
         """
@@ -1994,7 +1999,9 @@ cdef class FreeModuleElement(Vector):   # abstract base class
             (1/2, 2/5, pi)
         """
         assert value.parent() is self.coordinate_ring()
+        sig_on()
         self.set_unsafe(i, value)
+        sig_off()
 
     def __invert__(self):
         """