Index: subversion/bindings/swig/python/svn/core.py
===================================================================
--- subversion/bindings/swig/python/svn/core.py	(revision 17078)
+++ subversion/bindings/swig/python/svn/core.py	(working copy)
@@ -19,7 +19,11 @@
 from libsvn.core import *
 import libsvn.core as _core
 import atexit as _atexit
-_atexit.register(lambda: _core.application_pool.destroy())
+_atexit.register(lambda:
+    application_pool and
+    application_pool.valid() and
+    application_pool.destroy()
+)
 
 def _unprefix_names(symbol_dict, from_prefix, to_prefix = ''):
   for name, value in symbol_dict.items():