diff --git a/SWIG/Examples/test-suite/import_nomodule.i b/SWIG/Examples/test-suite/import_nomodule.i
index a2bc4b9bd..5d5115360 100644
--- a/SWIG/Examples/test-suite/import_nomodule.i
+++ b/SWIG/Examples/test-suite/import_nomodule.i
@@ -18,6 +18,8 @@
  */
 
 %newobject create_Foo;
+%delobject delete_Foo;
+
 %inline %{
 Foo *create_Foo() {
    return new Foo();
diff --git a/SWIG/Examples/test-suite/inherit_missing.i b/SWIG/Examples/test-suite/inherit_missing.i
index e38a6c8dd..4bd1e2a00 100644
--- a/SWIG/Examples/test-suite/inherit_missing.i
+++ b/SWIG/Examples/test-suite/inherit_missing.i
@@ -19,6 +19,7 @@ public:
 class Foo;
 
 %newobject new_Foo;
+%delobject delete_Foo;
 %inline %{
 
 class Bar : public Foo {
diff --git a/SWIG/Lib/swig.swg b/SWIG/Lib/swig.swg
index aa7d59b9b..8f399891d 100644
--- a/SWIG/Lib/swig.swg
+++ b/SWIG/Lib/swig.swg
@@ -99,6 +99,12 @@
 #define %nonewobject      %feature("new","0")
 #define %clearnewobject   %feature("new","")
 
+/* the %delobject directive */
+
+#define %delobject        %feature("del")
+#define %nodelobject      %feature("del","0")
+#define %cleardelobject   %feature("del","")
+
 /* the %refobject/%unrefobject directives */
 
 #define %refobject         %feature("ref")
diff --git a/SWIG/Source/Modules/lang.cxx b/SWIG/Source/Modules/lang.cxx
index 2c4bc4fa3..5577c3ef6 100644
--- a/SWIG/Source/Modules/lang.cxx
+++ b/SWIG/Source/Modules/lang.cxx
@@ -918,6 +918,10 @@ int
 Language::functionHandler(Node *n) {
   Parm *p;
   p = Getattr(n,"parms");
+  if (GetFlag(n,"feature:del")) {
+    /* the method acts like a delete operator, ie, we need to disown the parameter */
+    if (p) Setattr(p,"wrap:disown","1");
+  }
   if (!CurrentClass) {
     globalfunctionHandler(n);
   } else {