diff --git a/src/js/select2/core.js b/src/js/select2/core.js
index b8830fde..65410ac4 100644
--- a/src/js/select2/core.js
+++ b/src/js/select2/core.js
@@ -443,6 +443,8 @@ define([
     if (this._observer != null) {
       this._observer.disconnect();
       this._observer = null;
+    } else if (this.$element[0].removeEventListener) {
+      this.$element[0].removeEventListener('DOMAttrModified', this._sync, false);
     }
 
     this._sync = null;