diff --git a/src/plugins/platforms/cocoa/qnsview_drawing.mm b/src/plugins/platforms/cocoa/qnsview_drawing.mm
index b954a48e71a..a5a17a8c134 100644
--- a/src/plugins/platforms/cocoa/qnsview_drawing.mm
+++ b/src/plugins/platforms/cocoa/qnsview_drawing.mm
@@ -142,7 +142,7 @@
     static const bool containerLayerOptOut = qEnvironmentVariableIsSet("QT_MAC_NO_CONTAINER_LAYER");
     if (m_platformWindow->window()->surfaceType() != QSurface::OpenGLSurface && !containerLayerOptOut) {
         qCDebug(lcQpaDrawing) << "Wrapping content layer" << layer << "in container layer";
-        auto *containerLayer = [[QContainerLayer alloc] initWithContentLayer:layer];
+        auto *containerLayer = [[[QContainerLayer alloc] initWithContentLayer:layer] autorelease];
         containerLayer.name = @"Qt container layer";
         containerLayer.delegate = self;
         layer = containerLayer;