2 files changed, 16 insertions, 1 deletions
diff --git a/numpy/lib/_datasource.py b/numpy/lib/_datasource.py
index e34c376e5..30237b76f 100644
--- a/numpy/lib/_datasource.py
+++ b/numpy/lib/_datasource.py
@@ -328,7 +328,7 @@ class DataSource(object):
 
     def __del__(self):
         # Remove temp directories
-        if self._istmpdest:
+        if hasattr(self, '_istmpdest') and self._istmpdest:
             shutil.rmtree(self._destpath)
 
     def _iszip(self, filename):
diff --git a/numpy/lib/tests/test__datasource.py b/numpy/lib/tests/test__datasource.py
index 1df8bebf6..8eac16b58 100644
--- a/numpy/lib/tests/test__datasource.py
+++ b/numpy/lib/tests/test__datasource.py
@@ -361,3 +361,18 @@ class TestOpenFunc(object):
         fp = datasource.open(local_file)
         assert_(fp)
         fp.close()
+
+def test_del_attr_handling():
+    # DataSource __del__ can be called
+    # even if __init__ fails when the
+    # Exception object is caught by the
+    # caller as happens in refguide_check
+    # is_deprecated() function
+
+    ds = datasource.DataSource()
+    # simulate failed __init__ by removing key attribute
+    # produced within __init__ and expected by __del__
+    del ds._istmpdest
+    # should not raise an AttributeError if __del__
+    # gracefully handles failed __init__:
+    ds.__del__()