diff --git a/Control/AthenaCommon/python/AppMgr.py b/Control/AthenaCommon/python/AppMgr.py
index f757a27fc63bcaaae508af29ef4a993ec354df4d..89c846b1cb131125ff88d87f83cab86ef1bf8f38 100755
--- a/Control/AthenaCommon/python/AppMgr.py
+++ b/Control/AthenaCommon/python/AppMgr.py
@@ -947,7 +947,7 @@ GaudiSvcConf.AuditorSvc.__iadd__ =iadd
 del iadd
 
 
-def delattr( self, attr ):
+def _delattr( self, attr ):
    try:
       c = getattr( self, attr )
 
@@ -966,8 +966,8 @@ def delattr( self, attr ):
 
    super( GaudiSvcConf.AuditorSvc, self ).__delattr__( attr )
 
-GaudiSvcConf.AuditorSvc.__delattr__ = delattr
-del delattr
+GaudiSvcConf.AuditorSvc.__delattr__ = _delattr
+del _delattr
 
 
 # AuditorSvc globals