diff --git a/yt_dlp/YoutubeDL.py b/yt_dlp/YoutubeDL.py
index 2a0fabfd73..08d608a52d 100644
--- a/yt_dlp/YoutubeDL.py
+++ b/yt_dlp/YoutubeDL.py
@@ -962,8 +962,9 @@ class YoutubeDL:
 
     def close(self):
         self.save_cookies()
-        self._request_director.close()
-        del self._request_director
+        if '_request_director' in self.__dict__:
+            self._request_director.close()
+            del self._request_director
 
     def trouble(self, message=None, tb=None, is_error=True):
         """Determine action to take when a download problem appears.
diff --git a/yt_dlp/networking/common.py b/yt_dlp/networking/common.py
index 7da2652ae5..e43d74eadc 100644
--- a/yt_dlp/networking/common.py
+++ b/yt_dlp/networking/common.py
@@ -68,7 +68,7 @@ class RequestDirector:
     def close(self):
         for handler in self.handlers.values():
             handler.close()
-        self.handlers = {}
+        self.handlers.clear()
 
     def add_handler(self, handler: RequestHandler):
         """Add a handler. If a handler of the same RH_KEY exists, it will overwrite it"""