diff --git a/Lib/logging/__init__.py b/Lib/logging/__init__.py
--- a/Lib/logging/__init__.py
+++ b/Lib/logging/__init__.py
@@ -706,9 +706,9 @@
     Remove a handler reference from the internal cleanup list.
     """
     # This function can be called during module teardown, when globals are
-    # set to None. If _acquireLock is None, assume this is the case and do
-    # nothing.
-    if _acquireLock is not None:
+    # set to None. If any of the used globals is None, do nothing.
+    if (_acquireLock is not None and _handlerList is not None and
+            _releaseLock is not None):
         _acquireLock()
         try:
             if wr in _handlerList: