diff --git a/python/google/protobuf/internal/message_test.py b/python/google/protobuf/internal/message_test.py
index b0f1ae7..a6223c2 100755
--- a/python/google/protobuf/internal/message_test.py
+++ b/python/google/protobuf/internal/message_test.py
@@ -1340,6 +1340,17 @@
     self.assertEqual(False, message.optional_bool)
     self.assertEqual(0, message.optional_nested_message.bb)
 
+  def testDel(self):
+    msg = unittest_pb2.TestAllTypes()
+
+    # Fields cannot be deleted.
+    with self.assertRaises(AttributeError):
+      del msg.optional_int32
+    with self.assertRaises(AttributeError):
+      del msg.optional_bool
+    with self.assertRaises(AttributeError):
+      del msg.repeated_nested_message
+
   def testAssignInvalidEnum(self):
     """Assigning an invalid enum number is not allowed in proto2."""
     m = unittest_pb2.TestAllTypes()
diff --git a/python/message.c b/python/message.c
index 2aea2c5..2cca1c1 100644
--- a/python/message.c
+++ b/python/message.c
@@ -1005,6 +1005,12 @@
 static int PyUpb_Message_SetAttr(PyObject* _self, PyObject* attr,
                                  PyObject* value) {
   PyUpb_Message* self = (void*)_self;
+
+  if (value == NULL) {
+    PyErr_SetString(PyExc_AttributeError, "Cannot delete field attribute");
+    return -1;
+  }
+
   const upb_FieldDef* field;
   if (!PyUpb_Message_LookupName(self, attr, &field, NULL,
                                 PyExc_AttributeError)) {