diff --git a/src/video/cocoa/SDL_cocoawindow.h b/src/video/cocoa/SDL_cocoawindow.h
index 59c7ce14d9..4f4d9dacce 100644
--- a/src/video/cocoa/SDL_cocoawindow.h
+++ b/src/video/cocoa/SDL_cocoawindow.h
@@ -132,7 +132,6 @@ typedef enum
 @property(nonatomic) NSWindow *nswindow;
 @property(nonatomic) NSView *sdlContentView;
 @property(nonatomic) NSMutableArray *nscontexts;
-@property(nonatomic) SDL_bool created;
 @property(nonatomic) BOOL in_blocking_transition;
 @property(nonatomic) BOOL was_zoomed;
 @property(nonatomic) NSInteger window_number;
diff --git a/src/video/cocoa/SDL_cocoawindow.m b/src/video/cocoa/SDL_cocoawindow.m
index 0108541981..13f52ddc63 100644
--- a/src/video/cocoa/SDL_cocoawindow.m
+++ b/src/video/cocoa/SDL_cocoawindow.m
@@ -2830,7 +2830,8 @@ void Cocoa_DestroyWindow(SDL_VideoDevice *_this, SDL_Window *window)
             }
             [data.listener close];
             data.listener = nil;
-            if (data.created) {
+
+            if (!(window->flags & SDL_WINDOW_EXTERNAL)) {
                 /* Release the content view to avoid further updateLayer callbacks */
                 [data.nswindow setContentView:nil];
                 [data.nswindow close];