diff --git a/src/codegen/gen_java_Message.ysl2 b/src/codegen/gen_java_Message.ysl2
index 4e4f6f7..fc2f0e6 100644
--- a/src/codegen/gen_java_Message.ysl2
+++ b/src/codegen/gen_java_Message.ysl2
@@ -68,6 +68,11 @@ tstylesheet {
                     release(handle);
                 }
 
+                @Override
+                public void finalize() {
+                    release(handle);
+                }
+
                 final protected long getHandle() {
                     return handle;
                 }