diff --git a/libs/ardour/vst3_plugin.cc b/libs/ardour/vst3_plugin.cc
index 78065ca991..414a82419f 100644
--- a/libs/ardour/vst3_plugin.cc
+++ b/libs/ardour/vst3_plugin.cc
@@ -1132,6 +1132,7 @@ VST3PI::terminate ()
 
 	if (_controller && controller_is_component == false) {
 		_controller->terminate ();
+		_controller->release ();
 	}
 
 	_component->release ();