diff --git a/AFNetworking/AFHTTPClient.m b/AFNetworking/AFHTTPClient.m
index 65babc1..a812d33 100644
--- a/AFNetworking/AFHTTPClient.m
+++ b/AFNetworking/AFHTTPClient.m
@@ -315,7 +315,7 @@ static NSString * AFPropertyListStringFromParameters(NSDictionary *parameters) {
     }
     
     if (!operation) {
-        operation = [[AFHTTPRequestOperation alloc] initWithRequest:urlRequest];
+        operation = [[[AFHTTPRequestOperation alloc] initWithRequest:urlRequest] autorelease];
     }
     
     [operation setCompletionBlockWithSuccess:success failure:failure];