diff --git a/direct/src/showbase/Loader.py b/direct/src/showbase/Loader.py
index 0a1e60f01e..7febb9012d 100644
--- a/direct/src/showbase/Loader.py
+++ b/direct/src/showbase/Loader.py
@@ -134,13 +134,15 @@ class Loader(DirectObject):
 
         self.hook = "async_loader_%s" % (Loader.loaderIndex)
         Loader.loaderIndex += 1
-        self.accept(self.hook, self.__gotAsyncObject)
 
     def destroy(self):
         self.ignore(self.hook)
         self.loader.stopThreads()
         del self.base
-        del self.loader
+
+    def _init_base(self, base):
+        self.base = base
+        self.accept(self.hook, self.__gotAsyncObject)
 
     @classmethod
     def _loadPythonFileTypes(cls):
diff --git a/direct/src/showbase/ShowBase.py b/direct/src/showbase/ShowBase.py
index f35d7dea2a..40ebc8b8b9 100644
--- a/direct/src/showbase/ShowBase.py
+++ b/direct/src/showbase/ShowBase.py
@@ -437,7 +437,7 @@ class ShowBase(DirectObject.DirectObject):
 
         #: `.Loader.Loader` object.
         self.loader = ShowBaseGlobal.loader
-        self.loader.base = self
+        self.loader._init_base(self)
         self.graphicsEngine.setDefaultLoader(self.loader.loader)
 
         #: The global event manager, as imported from `.EventManagerGlobal`.