diff --git a/pandas/io/pytables.py b/pandas/io/pytables.py
index fe34f009165ac..18c2a761277f1 100644
--- a/pandas/io/pytables.py
+++ b/pandas/io/pytables.py
@@ -1994,9 +1994,8 @@ def convert(self, values: np.ndarray, nan_rep, encoding: str, errors: str):
         self.values = new_pd_index
 
     def take_data(self):
-        """ return the values & release the memory """
-        self.values, values = None, self.values
-        return values
+        """ return the values"""
+        return self.values
 
     @property
     def attrs(self):
@@ -2249,9 +2248,8 @@ def set_data(self, data: Union[np.ndarray, ABCExtensionArray]):
         self.kind = _dtype_to_kind(dtype_name)
 
     def take_data(self):
-        """ return the data & release the memory """
-        self.data, data = None, self.data
-        return data
+        """ return the data """
+        return self.data
 
     @classmethod
     def _get_atom(cls, values: Union[np.ndarray, ABCExtensionArray]) -> "Col":