diff --git a/src/ansys/dpf/core/dpf_operator.py b/src/ansys/dpf/core/dpf_operator.py
index 0780091893..e07352ba8a 100644
--- a/src/ansys/dpf/core/dpf_operator.py
+++ b/src/ansys/dpf/core/dpf_operator.py
@@ -736,10 +736,8 @@ def default_config(name, server=None):
 
     def __del__(self):
         try:
-            if hasattr(self, "_deleter_func"):
-                obj = self._deleter_func[1](self)
-                if obj is not None:
-                    self._deleter_func[0](obj)
+            if self._internal_obj is not None:
+                self._deleter_func[0](self._deleter_func[1](self))
         except:
             warnings.warn(traceback.format_exc())