diff --git a/metplus/util/config_metplus.py b/metplus/util/config_metplus.py
index f600bcfc8..b6ab999a7 100644
--- a/metplus/util/config_metplus.py
+++ b/metplus/util/config_metplus.py
@@ -462,6 +462,12 @@ def __init__(self, conf=None):
         # add section to hold environment variables defined by the user
         self.add_section('user_env_vars')
 
+    def __del__(self):
+        handlers = self.logger.handlers[:]
+        for handler in handlers:
+            self.logger.removeHandler(handler)
+            handler.close()
+
     def log(self, sublog=None):
         """! Overrides method in ProdConfig
         If the sublog argument is