diff --git a/libutils/binder/StrongPointer_test.cpp b/libutils/binder/StrongPointer_test.cpp
index f27c1f1cc..aa993c3f8 100644
--- a/libutils/binder/StrongPointer_test.cpp
+++ b/libutils/binder/StrongPointer_test.cpp
@@ -106,3 +106,17 @@ TYPED_TEST(StrongPointer, AssertStrongRefExists) {
     EXPECT_DEATH(sp<TypeParam>::fromExisting(foo), "");
     delete foo;
 }
+
+TYPED_TEST(StrongPointer, release) {
+    bool isDeleted = false;
+    TypeParam* foo = nullptr;
+    {
+        sp<TypeParam> sp1 = sp<TypeParam>::make(&isDeleted);
+        ASSERT_EQ(1, sp1->getStrongCount());
+        foo = sp1.release();
+    }
+    ASSERT_FALSE(isDeleted) << "release failed, deleted anyway when sp left scope";
+    ASSERT_EQ(1, foo->getStrongCount()) << "release mismanaged refcount";
+    foo->decStrong(nullptr);
+    ASSERT_TRUE(isDeleted) << "foo was leaked!";
+}
diff --git a/libutils/binder/include/utils/StrongPointer.h b/libutils/binder/include/utils/StrongPointer.h
index 54aa691e0..43c00c95a 100644
--- a/libutils/binder/include/utils/StrongPointer.h
+++ b/libutils/binder/include/utils/StrongPointer.h
@@ -98,6 +98,15 @@ public:
 
     void clear();
 
+    // Releases the ownership of the object managed by this instance of sp, if any.
+    // The caller is now responsible for managing it. That is, the caller must ensure
+    // decStrong() is called when the pointer is no longer used.
+    [[nodiscard]] inline T* release() noexcept {
+        auto ret = m_ptr;
+        m_ptr = nullptr;
+        return ret;
+    }
+
     // Accessors
 
     inline T&       operator* () const     { return *m_ptr; }