diff --git a/direct/src/gui/OnscreenPanel.py b/direct/src/gui/OnscreenPanel.py
index 5d03999909..00d4070e50 100644
--- a/direct/src/gui/OnscreenPanel.py
+++ b/direct/src/gui/OnscreenPanel.py
@@ -185,9 +185,11 @@ class OnscreenPanel(PandaObject.PandaObject, NodePath):
         
         for button in self.panelButtons:
             button.cleanup()
+        del self.panelButtons
 
         for text in self.panelText:
             text.cleanup()
+        del self.panelText
 
         if not self.isEmpty():
             self.removeNode()
@@ -397,5 +399,3 @@ class OnscreenPanel(PandaObject.PandaObject, NodePath):
                                      self.geomRect[0], self.geomRect[1],
                                      self.geomRect[2], self.geomRect[3])
 
-
-