diff --git a/kitty/core_text.m b/kitty/core_text.m
index 51eec2c81..fa36d2a98 100644
--- a/kitty/core_text.m
+++ b/kitty/core_text.m
@@ -213,6 +213,7 @@ manually_search_fallback_fonts(CTFontRef current_font, CPUCell *cell) {
             CFRelease(new_font);
         }
     }
+    CFRelease(fonts);
     return ans;
 }