diff --git a/src/render/metal/SDL_render_metal.m b/src/render/metal/SDL_render_metal.m
index eb5ef5df0..9fb3de47a 100644
--- a/src/render/metal/SDL_render_metal.m
+++ b/src/render/metal/SDL_render_metal.m
@@ -736,6 +736,10 @@ METAL_RenderPresent(SDL_Renderer * renderer)
     }];
 #endif
     [data.mtlcmdbuffer commit];
+#if !__has_feature(objc_arc)
+    [data.mtlcmdencoder release];
+    [data.mtlcmdbuffer release];
+#endif
     data.beginScene = YES;
 }