@@ -71,9 +71,10 @@ def destroy(cls, num):
     @classmethod
     def destroy_fig(cls, fig):
         """Destroy figure *fig*."""
-        canvas = getattr(fig, "canvas", None)
-        manager = getattr(canvas, "manager", None)
-        cls.destroy(manager)
+        num = next((manager.num for manager in cls.figs.values()
+                    if manager.canvas.figure == fig), None)
+        if num is not None:
+            cls.destroy(num)
 
     @classmethod
     def destroy_all(cls):
 
@@ -60,6 +60,15 @@ def test_get_default_filename(tmpdir):
     assert filename == 'image.png'
 
 
+def test_canvas_change():
+    fig = plt.figure()
+    # Replaces fig.canvas
+    canvas = FigureCanvasBase(fig)
+    # Should still work.
+    plt.close(fig)
+    assert not plt.fignum_exists(fig.number)
+
+
 @pytest.mark.backend('pdf')
 def test_non_gui_warning(monkeypatch):
     plt.subplots()