diff --git a/src/atlas/field/detail/FieldImpl.cc b/src/atlas/field/detail/FieldImpl.cc
index 78d929f23..3d655926d 100644
--- a/src/atlas/field/detail/FieldImpl.cc
+++ b/src/atlas/field/detail/FieldImpl.cc
@@ -94,6 +94,9 @@ FieldImpl::FieldImpl(const std::string& name, array::Array* array)
 }
 
 FieldImpl::~FieldImpl() {
+    for (FieldObserver* observer : field_observers_) {
+        observer->onFieldDestruction(*this);
+    }
     array_->detach();
     if (array_->owners() == 0) {
         for (auto& f : callback_on_destruction_) {
diff --git a/src/atlas/field/detail/FieldImpl.h b/src/atlas/field/detail/FieldImpl.h
index cdd9c308f..24af72d2c 100644
--- a/src/atlas/field/detail/FieldImpl.h
+++ b/src/atlas/field/detail/FieldImpl.h
@@ -257,7 +257,8 @@ class FieldObserver {
         }
     }
 
-    virtual void onFieldRename(FieldImpl&) = 0;
+    virtual void onFieldRename(FieldImpl&) {}
+    virtual void onFieldDestruction(FieldImpl&) {}
 };
 
 //----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------