diff --git a/src/google/protobuf/unknown_field_set.cc b/src/google/protobuf/unknown_field_set.cc
index 766449003c..93f0f206ad 100644
--- a/src/google/protobuf/unknown_field_set.cc
+++ b/src/google/protobuf/unknown_field_set.cc
@@ -50,8 +50,13 @@ namespace {
 // instantiate the UnknownFieldSet dynamically only when required.
 UnknownFieldSet* default_unknown_field_set_instance_ = NULL;
 
+void DeleteDefaultUnknownFieldSet() {
+  delete default_unknown_field_set_instance_;
+}
+
 void InitDefaultUnknownFieldSet() {
   default_unknown_field_set_instance_ = new UnknownFieldSet();
+  internal::OnShutdown(&DeleteDefaultUnknownFieldSet);
 }
 
 GOOGLE_PROTOBUF_DECLARE_ONCE(default_unknown_field_set_once_init_);