diff --git a/src/renderer_mtl.mm b/src/renderer_mtl.mm
index cf00e82cc5..807bd9d106 100644
--- a/src/renderer_mtl.mm
+++ b/src/renderer_mtl.mm
@@ -3174,8 +3174,6 @@ void writeString(bx::WriterI* _writer, const char* _str)
 				m_ptrStencil = s_renderMtl->m_device.newTextureWithDescriptor(desc);
 			}
 
-			MTL_RELEASE(desc, 0);
-
 			uint8_t* temp = NULL;
 			if (convert)
 			{
@@ -3252,6 +3250,8 @@ void writeString(bx::WriterI* _writer, const char* _str)
 					depth  >>= 1;
 				}
 			}
+			
+			MTL_RELEASE(desc, 0);
 
 			if (NULL != temp)
 			{