diff --git a/sycl/plugins/level_zero/pi_level_zero.cpp b/sycl/plugins/level_zero/pi_level_zero.cpp
index ae141b3c1f78e..8fb700c3f9f06 100644
--- a/sycl/plugins/level_zero/pi_level_zero.cpp
+++ b/sycl/plugins/level_zero/pi_level_zero.cpp
@@ -2779,6 +2779,7 @@ pi_result piKernelRelease(pi_kernel Kernel) {
 
   assert(Kernel);
   if (--(Kernel->RefCount) == 0) {
+    zeKernelDestroy(Kernel->ZeKernel);
     delete Kernel;
   }
   return PI_SUCCESS;