diff --git a/src/events/SDL_keymap.c b/src/events/SDL_keymap.c
index 5b6261e6be..9960aa9d60 100644
--- a/src/events/SDL_keymap.c
+++ b/src/events/SDL_keymap.c
@@ -207,7 +207,7 @@ void SDL_DestroyKeymap(SDL_Keymap *keymap)
         return;
     }
 
-    if (keymap == SDL_GetCurrentKeymap(true)) {
+    if (!keymap->auto_release && keymap == SDL_GetCurrentKeymap(true)) {
         SDL_SetKeymap(NULL, false);
     }