diff --git a/IPython/html/static/widgets/js/widget.js b/IPython/html/static/widgets/js/widget.js
index 8dcda6d38..751303b45 100644
--- a/IPython/html/static/widgets/js/widget.js
+++ b/IPython/html/static/widgets/js/widget.js
@@ -52,6 +52,8 @@ define(["widgets/js/manager",
         _handle_comm_closed: function (msg) {
             // Handle when a widget is closed.
             this.trigger('comm:close');
+            this.stopListening();
+            this.trigger('destroy', this);
             delete this.comm.model; // Delete ref so GC will collect widget model.
             delete this.comm;
             delete this.model_id; // Delete id from model so widget manager cleans up.