diff --git a/components/tools/OmeroPy/src/omero/gateway/__init__.py b/components/tools/OmeroPy/src/omero/gateway/__init__.py
index 8cdfc7cfff5..ef1f53ee8e3 100644
--- a/components/tools/OmeroPy/src/omero/gateway/__init__.py
+++ b/components/tools/OmeroPy/src/omero/gateway/__init__.py
@@ -1921,10 +1921,6 @@ def close(self):  # pragma: no cover
         self._proxies = NoProxies()
         logger.info("closed connecion (uuid=%s)" % str(self._sessionUuid))
 
-    def __del__(self):
-        logger.debug("##GARBAGE COLLECTOR KICK IN")
-        self._assert_unregistered()
-
     def _createProxies(self):
         """
         Creates proxies to the server services. Called on connection or