diff --git a/core/java/android/view/SurfaceControlViewHost.java b/core/java/android/view/SurfaceControlViewHost.java
index 3d6da6f71b3ff..dcc320dff4c73 100644
--- a/core/java/android/view/SurfaceControlViewHost.java
+++ b/core/java/android/view/SurfaceControlViewHost.java
@@ -264,8 +264,8 @@ public class SurfaceControlViewHost {
      * and render the object unusable.
      */
     public void release() {
+        // ViewRoot will release mSurfaceControl for us.
         mViewRoot.die(false /* immediate */);
-        mSurfaceControl.release();
     }
 
     /**