diff --git a/src/osx/cocoa/utils.mm b/src/osx/cocoa/utils.mm
index eb43898763..173df9c046 100644
--- a/src/osx/cocoa/utils.mm
+++ b/src/osx/cocoa/utils.mm
@@ -181,6 +181,7 @@ void wxMacWakeUp()
 
 bool wxApp::DoInitGui()
 {
+    wxMacAutoreleasePool pool;
     [NSApplication sharedApplication];
 
     if (!sm_isEmbedded)