diff --git a/system/jlib/jptree.cpp b/system/jlib/jptree.cpp
index e9f19075d0a..c15302f35ea 100644
--- a/system/jlib/jptree.cpp
+++ b/system/jlib/jptree.cpp
@@ -1368,9 +1368,8 @@ bool PTree::hasProp(const char * xpath) const
     }
     else
     {
-        IPropertyTreeIterator *iter = getElements(xpath);
+        Owned<IPropertyTreeIterator> iter = getElements(xpath);
         bool res = iter->first();
-        iter->Release();
         return res;
     }
 }