diff --git a/speedtest-cli b/speedtest-cli
index b47f028..dc0288e 100755
--- a/speedtest-cli
+++ b/speedtest-cli
@@ -220,6 +220,7 @@ def closestServers(client, all=False):
             servers[d] = [attrib]
         else:
             servers[d].append(attrib)
+    del root
 
     closest = []
     for d in sorted(servers.keys()):
@@ -232,7 +233,6 @@ def closestServers(client, all=False):
         break
 
     del servers
-    del root
     return closest
 
 
diff --git a/speedtest-cli-3 b/speedtest-cli-3
index 728d01a..67dd619 100755
--- a/speedtest-cli-3
+++ b/speedtest-cli-3
@@ -206,6 +206,7 @@ def closestServers(client, all=False):
             servers[d] = [server.attrib]
         else:
             servers[d].append(server.attrib)
+    del root
 
     closest = []
     for d in sorted(servers.keys()):
@@ -218,7 +219,6 @@ def closestServers(client, all=False):
         break
 
     del servers
-    del root
     return closest