diff --git a/scripts/dts/python-devicetree/src/devicetree/dtlib.py b/scripts/dts/python-devicetree/src/devicetree/dtlib.py
index d74fbc67d37d496..cc510ced403568b 100644
--- a/scripts/dts/python-devicetree/src/devicetree/dtlib.py
+++ b/scripts/dts/python-devicetree/src/devicetree/dtlib.py
@@ -166,7 +166,13 @@ def _get_prop(self, name: str) -> 'Property':
         return prop
 
     def _del(self) -> None:
-        # Removes the node from the tree
+        # Removes the node from the tree. When called on the root node,
+        # this method will leave it empty but still part of the tree.
+
+        if self.parent is None:
+            self.nodes.clear()
+            self.props.clear()
+            return
         self.parent.nodes.pop(self.name)  # type: ignore
 
     def __str__(self):
diff --git a/scripts/dts/python-devicetree/tests/test_dtlib.py b/scripts/dts/python-devicetree/tests/test_dtlib.py
index b1b6ce33fd5a28a..f7c8a31cc673c6a 100644
--- a/scripts/dts/python-devicetree/tests/test_dtlib.py
+++ b/scripts/dts/python-devicetree/tests/test_dtlib.py
@@ -911,6 +911,15 @@ def test_deletion():
     verify_parse("""
 /dts-v1/;
 
+/ {
+	x = "foo";
+	sub0 {
+		x = "bar";
+	};
+};
+
+/delete-node/ &{/};
+
 / {
 	sub1 {
 		x = < 1 >;
@@ -940,6 +949,29 @@ def test_deletion():
 		x = < 0x1 >;
 	};
 };
+""")
+
+    verify_parse("""
+/dts-v1/;
+
+/ {
+	x: x = < &sub >, &sub;
+
+	sub1 {
+		x = < &sub >, &sub;
+	};
+	sub2: sub2 {
+		x = < &sub >, &sub;
+	};
+};
+
+/delete-node/ &{/};
+""",
+"""
+/dts-v1/;
+
+/ {
+};
 """)
 
     verify_error_endswith("""