diff --git a/packages/flutter/lib/src/widgets/automatic_keep_alive.dart b/packages/flutter/lib/src/widgets/automatic_keep_alive.dart
index 8f22bc5012..70da4a6b1b 100644
--- a/packages/flutter/lib/src/widgets/automatic_keep_alive.dart
+++ b/packages/flutter/lib/src/widgets/automatic_keep_alive.dart
@@ -353,7 +353,9 @@ mixin AutomaticKeepAliveClientMixin<T extends StatefulWidget> on State<T> {
   }
 
   void _releaseKeepAlive() {
+    // Dispose and release do not imply each other.
     _keepAliveHandle!.release();
+    _keepAliveHandle!.dispose();
     _keepAliveHandle = null;
   }