diff --git a/python/mujoco/specs.cc b/python/mujoco/specs.cc
index 70bbc18f..c280911e 100644
--- a/python/mujoco/specs.cc
+++ b/python/mujoco/specs.cc
@@ -568,7 +568,6 @@ PYBIND11_MODULE(_specs, m) {
   // ============================= MJSBODY =====================================
   mjsBody.def_property_readonly(
       "id", [](raw::MjsBody& self) -> int { return mjs_getId(self.element); });
-  mjsBody.def("delete", [](raw::MjsBody& self) { mjs_delete(self.element); });
   mjsBody.def(
       "add_body",
       [](raw::MjsBody& self, raw::MjsDefault* default_) -> raw::MjsBody* {
diff --git a/python/mujoco/specs_test.py b/python/mujoco/specs_test.py
index 0459b013..ad068f91 100644
--- a/python/mujoco/specs_test.py
+++ b/python/mujoco/specs_test.py
@@ -98,6 +98,34 @@ class SpecsTest(absltest.TestCase):
         </mujoco>
     """),)
 
+  def test_load_xml(self):
+    filename = '../../test/testdata/model.xml'
+    state_type = mujoco.mjtState.mjSTATE_INTEGRATION
+
+    # Load from file.
+    spec1 = mujoco.MjSpec()
+    spec1.from_file(filename)
+    model1 = spec1.compile()
+    data1 = mujoco.MjData(model1)
+    mujoco.mj_step(model1, data1)
+    size1 = mujoco.mj_stateSize(model1, state_type)
+    state1 = np.empty(size1, np.float64)
+    mujoco.mj_getState(model1, data1, state1, state_type)
+
+    # Load from string.
+    spec2 = mujoco.MjSpec()
+    with open(filename, 'r') as file:
+      spec2.from_string(file.read().rstrip())
+    model2 = spec2.compile()
+    data2 = mujoco.MjData(model2)
+    mujoco.mj_step(model2, data2)
+    size2 = mujoco.mj_stateSize(model2, state_type)
+    state2 = np.empty(size2, np.float64)
+    mujoco.mj_getState(model2, data2, state2, state_type)
+
+    # Check that the state is the same.
+    np.testing.assert_array_equal(state1, state2)
+
   def test_compile_errors_with_line_info(self):
     spec = mujoco.MjSpec()
 
@@ -269,6 +297,30 @@ class SpecsTest(absltest.TestCase):
     model = spec.compile({'cube.obj': cube})
     self.assertEqual(model.nmeshvert, 8)
 
+  def test_delete(self):
+    filename = '../../test/testdata/model.xml'
+
+    spec = mujoco.MjSpec()
+    spec.from_file(filename)
+
+    model = spec.compile()
+    self.assertIsNotNone(model)
+    self.assertEqual(model.nsite, 11)
+    self.assertEqual(model.nsensor, 11)
+
+    head = spec.find_body('head')
+    self.assertIsNotNone(head)
+    site = head.first_site()
+    self.assertIsNotNone(site)
+
+    site.delete()
+    spec.sensors[-1].delete()
+    spec.sensors[-1].delete()
+
+    model = spec.compile()
+    self.assertIsNotNone(model)
+    self.assertEqual(model.nsite, 10)
+    self.assertEqual(model.nsensor, 9)
 
 if __name__ == '__main__':
   absltest.main()
diff --git a/src/user/user_api.cc b/src/user/user_api.cc
index 2c3b5aee..ba5890fe 100644
--- a/src/user/user_api.cc
+++ b/src/user/user_api.cc
@@ -148,7 +148,7 @@ int mjs_detachBody(mjSpec* s, mjsBody* b) {
   mjCModel* model = static_cast<mjCModel*>(s->element);
   mjCBody* body = static_cast<mjCBody*>(b->element);
   *model -= *body;
-  mjs_delete(b->element);
+  delete body;
   return 0;
 }
 
@@ -181,7 +181,7 @@ void mjs_addSpec(mjSpec* s, mjSpec* child) {
 // delete object, it will call the appropriate destructor since ~mjCBase is virtual
 void mjs_delete(mjsElement* element) {
   mjCBase* object = static_cast<mjCBase*>(element);
-  delete object;
+  object->model->DeleteElement(element);
 }
 
 
diff --git a/src/user/user_model.cc b/src/user/user_model.cc
index fbd94a6b..c7fd5ccb 100644
--- a/src/user/user_model.cc
+++ b/src/user/user_model.cc
@@ -340,6 +340,68 @@ mjCModel_& mjCModel::operator+=(mjCDef& subtree) {
 
 
 
+template <class T>
+void deletefromlist(std::vector<T*>* list, mjsElement* element) {
+  if (!list) {
+    return;
+  }
+  for (int j = 0; j < list->size(); ++j) {
+    list->at(j)->id = -1;
+    if (list->at(j) == element) {
+      delete list->at(j);
+      list->erase(list->begin() + j);
+      j--;
+    }
+  }
+}
+
+
+
+// discard all invalid elements from all lists
+void mjCModel::DeleteElement(mjsElement* el) {
+  mjCBody *world = bodies_[0];
+  if (compiled) {
+    ResetTreeLists();
+  }
+
+  switch (el->elemtype) {
+    case mjOBJ_BODY:
+      throw mjCError(NULL, "bodies cannot be deleted, use detach instead");
+      break;
+
+    case mjOBJ_GEOM:
+      deletefromlist(&(static_cast<mjCGeom*>(el)->body->geoms), el);
+      break;
+
+    case mjOBJ_SITE:
+      deletefromlist(&(static_cast<mjCSite*>(el)->body->sites), el);
+      break;
+
+    case mjOBJ_JOINT:
+      deletefromlist(&(static_cast<mjCJoint*>(el)->body->joints), el);
+      break;
+
+    case mjOBJ_LIGHT:
+      deletefromlist(&(static_cast<mjCLight*>(el)->body->lights), el);
+      break;
+
+    case mjOBJ_CAMERA:
+      deletefromlist(&(static_cast<mjCCamera*>(el)->body->cameras), el);
+      break;
+
+    default:
+      deletefromlist(object_lists_[el->elemtype], el);
+      break;
+  }
+
+  if (compiled) {
+    MakeLists(world);
+    ProcessLists(/*checkrepeat=*/false);
+  }
+}
+
+
+
 // TODO: we should not use C-type casting with multiple C++ inheritance
 void mjCModel::CreateObjectLists() {
   for (int i = 0; i < mjNOBJECT; ++i) {
diff --git a/src/user/user_model.h b/src/user/user_model.h
index 52bef9c1..9f88bb5b 100644
--- a/src/user/user_model.h
+++ b/src/user/user_model.h
@@ -202,6 +202,9 @@ class mjCModel : public mjCModel_, private mjSpec {
   // delete all elements
   template <class T> void DeleteAll(std::vector<T*>& elements);
 
+  // delete object from the corresponding list
+  void DeleteElement(mjsElement* el);
+
   // API for access to model elements (outside tree)
   int NumObjects(mjtObj type);              // number of objects in specified list
   mjCBase* GetObject(mjtObj type, int id);  // pointer to specified object