diff --git a/sys/applemedia/avfassetsrc.m b/sys/applemedia/avfassetsrc.m
index 0a40c0dbcc..0aaf3adcfe 100644
--- a/sys/applemedia/avfassetsrc.m
+++ b/sys/applemedia/avfassetsrc.m
@@ -1084,6 +1084,10 @@ gst_avf_asset_src_uri_handler_init (gpointer g_iface, gpointer iface_data)
   }
 
   buf = gst_core_media_buffer_new (cmbuf, FALSE, TRUE);
+  CFRelease (cmbuf);
+  if (buf == NULL)
+    return NULL;
+  /* cmbuf is now retained by buf (in meta) */
   dur = CMSampleBufferGetDuration (cmbuf);
   ts = CMSampleBufferGetPresentationTimeStamp (cmbuf);
   if (dur.value != 0) {