diff --git a/rocksdb/_rocksdb.pyx b/rocksdb/_rocksdb.pyx
index edd856a..5a2d0c9 100644
--- a/rocksdb/_rocksdb.pyx
+++ b/rocksdb/_rocksdb.pyx
@@ -1672,17 +1672,17 @@ cdef class DB(object):
 
     def __dealloc__(self):
         self.close()
-        
+
     def close(self):
         cdef ColumnFamilyOptions copts
         if not self.db == NULL:
             # We have to make sure we delete the handles so rocksdb doesn't
             # assert when we delete the db
-            self.cf_handles.clear()
+            del self.cf_handles[:]
             for copts in self.cf_options:
                 if copts:
                     copts.in_use = False
-            self.cf_options.clear()
+            del self.cf_options[:]
 
             with nogil:
                 del self.db