diff --git a/src/osx/cocoa/menuitem.mm b/src/osx/cocoa/menuitem.mm
index 680d3c0cc7..cb525c3fac 100644
--- a/src/osx/cocoa/menuitem.mm
+++ b/src/osx/cocoa/menuitem.mm
@@ -223,6 +223,7 @@ wxMenuItemCocoaImpl::~wxMenuItemCocoaImpl()
 {
     if ( ![m_osxMenuItem isSeparatorItem] )
         [(wxNSMenuItem*)m_osxMenuItem setImplementation:nil];
+    [m_osxMenuItem release];
 }