diff --git a/mediapipe/java/com/google/mediapipe/glutil/GlThread.java b/mediapipe/java/com/google/mediapipe/glutil/GlThread.java
index 24b8ca094..b8d4fa636 100644
--- a/mediapipe/java/com/google/mediapipe/glutil/GlThread.java
+++ b/mediapipe/java/com/google/mediapipe/glutil/GlThread.java
@@ -128,6 +128,10 @@ public class GlThread extends Thread {
 
       prepareGl();
       startedSuccessfully = true;
+    } catch (RuntimeException e) {
+      releaseGl();
+      eglManager.release();
+      throw e;
     } finally {
       // Always stop waitUntilReady here, even if we got an exception.
       // Otherwise the main thread may be stuck waiting.