diff --git a/Lib/idlelib/NEWS.txt b/Lib/idlelib/NEWS.txt
index 06e4ad44411..f8931b328cc 100644
--- a/Lib/idlelib/NEWS.txt
+++ b/Lib/idlelib/NEWS.txt
@@ -3,6 +3,9 @@ What's New in IDLE 1.2.2c1?
 
 *Release date: XX-FEB-2008*
 
+- There was an error on exit if no sys.exitfunc was defined. Issue 1647.
+  (backport r60227)
+
 - Could not open files in .idlerc directory if latter was hidden on Windows.  
   Issue 1743, Issue 1862. (backport r60225, r60745)
 
diff --git a/Lib/idlelib/run.py b/Lib/idlelib/run.py
index ae810c4ecc7..5560af81a2e 100644
--- a/Lib/idlelib/run.py
+++ b/Lib/idlelib/run.py
@@ -205,7 +205,10 @@ def exit():
 
     """
     if no_exitfunc:
-        del sys.exitfunc
+        try:
+            del sys.exitfunc
+        except AttributeError:
+            pass
     sys.exit(0)
 
 class MyRPCServer(rpc.RPCServer):