diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index 157d0a3..9d774b8 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -6,6 +6,8 @@
 
 - Unit tests: added support for ``pytest`` and ``coverage`` (60% coverage as of today)
 
+- [Issue #77](https://github.com/PlotPyStack/PythonQwt/issues/77) - AttributeError: 'XXX' object has no attribute '_QwtPlot__data'
+
 - [Issue #72](https://github.com/PlotPyStack/PythonQwt/issues/72) - AttributeError: 'QwtScaleWidget' object has no attribute 'maxMajor' / 'maxMinor' / 'stepSize'
 
 - [Issue #76](https://github.com/PlotPyStack/PythonQwt/issues/76) - [PySide] AttributeError: 'QwtPlotCanvas' object has no attribute 'Sunken'
diff --git a/qwt/plot.py b/qwt/plot.py
index 823edd8..c7a603e 100644
--- a/qwt/plot.py
+++ b/qwt/plot.py
@@ -361,17 +361,6 @@ def __init__(self, *args):
 
         qwtEnableLegendItems(self, True)
 
-    def __del__(self):
-        self.setAutoReplot(False)
-        # XXX Is is really necessary in Python? (pure transcription of C++)
-        # The following line have been commented to avoid crashing Python
-        # when exiting interpreter (Python 3 only)
-
-    #        self.detachItems(QwtPlotItem.Rtti_PlotItem, self.autoDelete())
-    #        self.__data.layout = None
-    #        self.deleteAxesData()
-    #        self.__data = None
-
     def setFlatStyle(self, state):
         """
         Set or reset the flatStyle option