Index: include/llvm/IR/GlobalVariable.h
===================================================================
--- include/llvm/IR/GlobalVariable.h
+++ include/llvm/IR/GlobalVariable.h
@@ -68,9 +68,6 @@
 
   ~GlobalVariable() {
     dropAllReferences();
-
-    // FIXME: needed by operator delete
-    setGlobalVariableNumOperands(1);
   }
 
   // allocate space for exactly one operand
@@ -78,6 +75,16 @@
     return User::operator new(s, 1);
   }
 
+  // delete space for exactly one operand as created in the corresponding new operator
+  void operator delete(void* ptr){
+    assert(ptr != nullptr && "must not be nullptr");
+    User *Obj = static_cast<User *>(ptr);
+    // Number of operands can be set to 0 after construction and initialization. Make sure
+    // that number of operands is reset to 1, as this is needed in User::operator delete
+    Obj->setGlobalVariableNumOperands(1);
+    User::operator delete(Obj);
+  }
+
   /// Provide fast operand accessors
   DECLARE_TRANSPARENT_OPERAND_ACCESSORS(Value);
 
Index: include/llvm/IR/User.h
===================================================================
--- include/llvm/IR/User.h
+++ include/llvm/IR/User.h
@@ -99,13 +99,31 @@
 
   /// \brief Free memory allocated for User and Use objects.
   void operator delete(void *Usr);
-  /// \brief Placement delete - required by std, but never called.
-  void operator delete(void*, unsigned) {
+  /// \brief Placement delete - required by std, called if the ctor throws.
+  void operator delete(void* Usr, unsigned) {
+    // called when constructor throws.
+    // Note: If a subclass manipulates the information which is required to calculate the 
+    // Usr memory pointer, e.g. NumUserOperands, the operator delete of that subclass has 
+    // to restore the changed information to the original value, since the dtor of that class
+    // is not called if the ctor fails.  
+    User::operator delete(Usr);
+
+#ifndef LLVM_ENABLE_EXCEPTIONS
     llvm_unreachable("Constructor throws?");
+#endif
   }
-  /// \brief Placement delete - required by std, but never called.
-  void operator delete(void*, unsigned, bool) {
+  /// \brief Placement delete - required by std, called if the ctor throws.
+  void operator delete(void* Usr, unsigned, bool) {
+    // called when constructor throws.
+    // Note: If a subclass manipulates the information which is required to calculate the 
+    // Usr memory pointer, e.g. NumUserOperands, the operator delete of that subclass has 
+    // to restore the changed information to the original value, since the dtor of that class
+    // is not called if the ctor fails.  
+    User::operator delete(Usr);
+
+#ifndef LLVM_ENABLE_EXCEPTIONS
     llvm_unreachable("Constructor throws?");
+#endif
   }
 
 protected: