diff --git a/core/java/android/view/SurfaceControlViewHost.java b/core/java/android/view/SurfaceControlViewHost.java
index 7ec008c901bc1..7086dc09c8a30 100644
--- a/core/java/android/view/SurfaceControlViewHost.java
+++ b/core/java/android/view/SurfaceControlViewHost.java
@@ -272,8 +272,8 @@ public class SurfaceControlViewHost {
      * and render the object unusable.
      */
     public void release() {
+        // ViewRoot will release mSurfaceControl for us.
         mViewRoot.die(false /* immediate */);
-        mSurfaceControl.release();
     }
 
     /**