diff --git a/src/primitives/retired.rs b/src/primitives/retired.rs
index 2e5badb..a5346b2 100644
--- a/src/primitives/retired.rs
+++ b/src/primitives/retired.rs
@@ -14,9 +14,12 @@ impl Retired {
         self.0.push(image);
     }
 
-    /// Frees every retired image; call while painting.
+    /// Frees images no one else holds; call while painting.
     pub fn release(&mut self, window: &mut Window) {
-        for image in self.0.drain(..) {
+        // A shared image may still be drawn; it waits.
+        let (free, held): (Vec<_>, Vec<_>) = self.0.drain(..).partition(|image| Arc::strong_count(image) == 1);
+        self.0 = held;
+        for image in free {
             if let Err(error) = window.drop_image(image) {
                 log::error!("images: a retired image stayed: {error}");
             }
diff --git a/src/primitives/tests.rs b/src/primitives/tests.rs
index cfa70f9..3bf58aa 100644
--- a/src/primitives/tests.rs
+++ b/src/primitives/tests.rs
@@ -261,4 +261,17 @@ fn a_retired_image_is_freed_at_the_next_paint(cx: &mut TestAppContext) {
     });
     cx.run_until_parked();
     assert!(view.read_with(cx, |painted, _| painted.retired.is_empty()), "the old image was freed");
+    // One still held elsewhere waits until it is let go.
+    let pixels = image::RgbaImage::from_pixel(2, 2, image::Rgba([4, 5, 6, 255]));
+    let shared = std::sync::Arc::new(gpui::RenderImage::new([image::Frame::new(pixels)]));
+    view.update(cx, |painted, cx| {
+        painted.retired.push(shared.clone());
+        cx.notify();
+    });
+    cx.run_until_parked();
+    assert!(!view.read_with(cx, |painted, _| painted.retired.is_empty()), "a held image waits");
+    drop(shared);
+    view.update(cx, |_, cx| cx.notify());
+    cx.run_until_parked();
+    assert!(view.read_with(cx, |painted, _| painted.retired.is_empty()), "then it is freed");
 }