Index: Lib/logging/__init__.py
===================================================================
--- Lib/logging/__init__.py	(revision 76505)
+++ Lib/logging/__init__.py	(working copy)
@@ -24,6 +24,7 @@
 """
 
 import sys, os, time, cStringIO, traceback, warnings
+import weakref
 
 __all__ = ['BASIC_FORMAT', 'BufferingFormatter', 'CRITICAL', 'DEBUG', 'ERROR',
            'FATAL', 'FileHandler', 'Filter', 'Formatter', 'Handler', 'INFO',
@@ -611,10 +612,11 @@
         self._name = None
         self.level = _checkLevel(level)
         self.formatter = None
+        self._weakref = weakref.ref(self)
         #get the module data lock, as we're updating a shared structure.
         _acquireLock()
         try:    #unlikely to raise an exception, but you never know...
-            _handlerList.insert(0, self)
+            _handlerList.insert(0, self._weakref)
         finally:
             _releaseLock()
         self.createLock()
@@ -724,7 +726,7 @@
         """
         Tidy up any resources used by the handler.
 
-        This version does removes the handler from an internal list
+        This version does remove the handler from an internal list
         of handlers which is closed when shutdown() is called. Subclasses
         should ensure that this gets called from overridden close()
         methods.
@@ -734,7 +736,6 @@
         try:    #unlikely to raise an exception, but you never know...
             if self._name and self._name in _handlers:
                 del _handlers[self._name]
-            _handlerList.remove(self)
         finally:
             _releaseLock()
 
@@ -759,6 +760,16 @@
             finally:
                 del ei
 
+    def __del__(self):
+        """Delete weak reference."""
+        #get the module data lock, as we're updating a shared structure.
+        _acquireLock()
+        try:
+            if self._weakref in _handlerList:
+                _handlerList.remove(self._weakref)
+        finally:
+            _releaseLock()
+
 class StreamHandler(Handler):
     """
     A handler class which writes logging records, appropriately formatted,
@@ -1532,7 +1543,7 @@
 
     Should be called at application exit.
     """
-    for h in handlerList[:]:
+    for h in [wr() for wr in handlerList if wr() is not None]:
         #errors might occur, for example, if files are locked
         #we just ignore them if raiseExceptions is not set
         try: