diff --git a/sleekxmpp/xmlstream/xmlstream.py b/sleekxmpp/xmlstream/xmlstream.py
index 1cd23fba..560b80a0 100644
--- a/sleekxmpp/xmlstream/xmlstream.py
+++ b/sleekxmpp/xmlstream/xmlstream.py
@@ -845,7 +845,7 @@ class XMLStream(object):
                 self.event_queue.put(('stanza', handler, stanza_copy))
                 try:
                     if handler.check_delete():
-                        self.__handlers.pop(self.__handlers.index(handler))
+                        self.__handlers.remove(handler)
                 except:
                     pass  # not thread safe
                 unhandled = False