diff --git a/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_gtk3.py b/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_gtk3.py
index 9dc1da1bda04..0dc98cdc6983 100644
--- a/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_gtk3.py
+++ b/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_gtk3.py
@@ -427,7 +427,6 @@ def destroy(self, *args):
         self.canvas.destroy()
         if self.toolbar:
             self.toolbar.destroy()
-        self.__dict__.clear()   #Is this needed? Other backends don't have it.
 
         if Gcf.get_num_fig_managers()==0 and \
                not matplotlib.is_interactive() and \