diff --git a/libraries/exoplayer/src/test/java/androidx/media3/exoplayer/ExoPlayerTest.java b/libraries/exoplayer/src/test/java/androidx/media3/exoplayer/ExoPlayerTest.java
index a87a610ad0..3e4abe6ca7 100644
--- a/libraries/exoplayer/src/test/java/androidx/media3/exoplayer/ExoPlayerTest.java
+++ b/libraries/exoplayer/src/test/java/androidx/media3/exoplayer/ExoPlayerTest.java
@@ -271,6 +271,8 @@ public final class ExoPlayerTest {
     assertThat(renderer.getFormatsRead()).isEmpty();
     assertThat(renderer.sampleBufferReadCount).isEqualTo(0);
     assertThat(renderer.isEnded).isFalse();
+
+    player.release();
   }
 
   /** Tests playback of a source that exposes a single period. */
@@ -313,6 +315,8 @@ public final class ExoPlayerTest {
     assertThat(renderer.getFormatsRead()).containsExactly(ExoPlayerTestRunner.VIDEO_FORMAT);
     assertThat(renderer.sampleBufferReadCount).isEqualTo(1);
     assertThat(renderer.isEnded).isTrue();
+
+    player.release();
   }
 
   /** Tests playback of a source that exposes three periods. */
@@ -349,6 +353,8 @@ public final class ExoPlayerTest {
             ExoPlayerTestRunner.VIDEO_FORMAT);
     assertThat(renderer.sampleBufferReadCount).isEqualTo(3);
     assertThat(renderer.isEnded).isTrue();
+
+    player.release();
   }
 
   /** Tests playback of periods with very short duration. */
@@ -383,6 +389,8 @@ public final class ExoPlayerTest {
     assertThat(renderer.getFormatsRead()).hasSize(100);
     assertThat(renderer.sampleBufferReadCount).isEqualTo(100);
     assertThat(renderer.isEnded).isTrue();
+
+    player.release();
   }
 
   @Test
@@ -607,6 +615,8 @@ public final class ExoPlayerTest {
     assertThat(audioRenderer.positionResetCount).isEqualTo(1);
     assertThat(videoRenderer.isEnded).isTrue();
     assertThat(audioRenderer.isEnded).isTrue();
+
+    player.release();
   }
 
   @Test
@@ -688,6 +698,8 @@ public final class ExoPlayerTest {
                             new int[] {C.FORMAT_HANDLED},
                             /* trackSelected= */ new boolean[] {true})))));
     assertThat(renderer.isEnded).isTrue();
+
+    player.release();
   }
 
   @Test
@@ -730,6 +742,8 @@ public final class ExoPlayerTest {
         .containsExactly(0, 1, 1, 2, 2, 0, 0, 0, 1, 2)
         .inOrder();
     assertThat(renderer.isEnded).isTrue();
+
+    player.release();
   }
 
   @Test
@@ -2979,6 +2993,8 @@ public final class ExoPlayerTest {
 
     assertThat(player.getPlayerError()).isNull();
     verify(secondMediaItemTarget, times(2)).handleMessage(anyInt(), any());
+
+    player.release();
   }
 
   @Test
@@ -3174,6 +3190,8 @@ public final class ExoPlayerTest {
     // When the ad finishes, the player position should be at or after the requested seek position.
     runUntilPositionDiscontinuity(player, Player.DISCONTINUITY_REASON_AUTO_TRANSITION);
     assertThat(player.getCurrentPosition()).isAtLeast(seekPositionMs);
+
+    player.release();
   }
 
   @Test
@@ -3317,6 +3335,8 @@ public final class ExoPlayerTest {
     // We expect the change to null to be notified, but not onPlayerError.
     verify(mockListener).onPlayerErrorChanged(ArgumentMatchers.isNull());
     verify(mockListener, never()).onPlayerError(any());
+
+    player.release();
   }
 
   @Test
@@ -5099,6 +5119,8 @@ public final class ExoPlayerTest {
 
     // This times out if playback info updates after the seek are blocked.
     runUntilPlaybackState(player, Player.STATE_ENDED);
+
+    player.release();
   }
 
   @Test
@@ -5850,6 +5872,8 @@ public final class ExoPlayerTest {
     runUntilPendingCommandsAreFullyHandled(player);
 
     assertThat(player.getPlayerError()).isNull();
+
+    player.release();
   }
 
   @Test
@@ -5936,6 +5960,8 @@ public final class ExoPlayerTest {
 
     // The player is not stuck in the buffering state.
     TestPlayerRunHelper.runUntilPlaybackState(player, Player.STATE_READY);
+
+    player.release();
   }
 
   @Test
@@ -9345,6 +9371,8 @@ public final class ExoPlayerTest {
     assertThat(player.isCommandAvailable(COMMAND_SET_TRACK_SELECTION_PARAMETERS)).isTrue();
     assertThat(player.isCommandAvailable(COMMAND_GET_TRACKS)).isTrue();
     assertThat(player.isCommandAvailable(COMMAND_RELEASE)).isTrue();
+
+    player.release();
   }
 
   @SuppressWarnings("deprecation") // Checking old volume commands
@@ -9358,6 +9386,8 @@ public final class ExoPlayerTest {
     assertThat(player.isCommandAvailable(COMMAND_ADJUST_DEVICE_VOLUME)).isTrue();
     assertThat(player.isCommandAvailable(COMMAND_SET_DEVICE_VOLUME_WITH_FLAGS)).isTrue();
     assertThat(player.isCommandAvailable(COMMAND_ADJUST_DEVICE_VOLUME_WITH_FLAGS)).isTrue();
+
+    player.release();
   }
 
   @SuppressWarnings("deprecation") // Checking old volume commands
@@ -9372,6 +9402,8 @@ public final class ExoPlayerTest {
     assertThat(player.isCommandAvailable(COMMAND_ADJUST_DEVICE_VOLUME)).isFalse();
     assertThat(player.isCommandAvailable(COMMAND_SET_DEVICE_VOLUME_WITH_FLAGS)).isFalse();
     assertThat(player.isCommandAvailable(COMMAND_ADJUST_DEVICE_VOLUME_WITH_FLAGS)).isFalse();
+
+    player.release();
   }
 
   @Test
@@ -9410,6 +9442,8 @@ public final class ExoPlayerTest {
     assertThat(player.isCommandAvailable(COMMAND_SEEK_TO_MEDIA_ITEM)).isFalse();
     assertThat(player.isCommandAvailable(COMMAND_SEEK_BACK)).isFalse();
     assertThat(player.isCommandAvailable(COMMAND_SEEK_FORWARD)).isFalse();
+
+    player.release();
   }
 
   @Test
@@ -9430,6 +9464,8 @@ public final class ExoPlayerTest {
     assertThat(player.isCommandAvailable(COMMAND_SEEK_IN_CURRENT_MEDIA_ITEM)).isFalse();
     assertThat(player.isCommandAvailable(COMMAND_SEEK_BACK)).isFalse();
     assertThat(player.isCommandAvailable(COMMAND_SEEK_FORWARD)).isFalse();
+
+    player.release();
   }
 
   @Test
@@ -9455,6 +9491,8 @@ public final class ExoPlayerTest {
     runUntilPlaybackState(player, Player.STATE_READY);
 
     assertThat(player.isCommandAvailable(COMMAND_SEEK_TO_PREVIOUS)).isFalse();
+
+    player.release();
   }
 
   @Test
@@ -9483,6 +9521,8 @@ public final class ExoPlayerTest {
     runUntilPlaybackState(player, Player.STATE_READY);
 
     assertThat(player.isCommandAvailable(COMMAND_SEEK_TO_PREVIOUS)).isTrue();
+
+    player.release();
   }
 
   @Test
@@ -9507,6 +9547,8 @@ public final class ExoPlayerTest {
     runUntilPlaybackState(player, Player.STATE_READY);
 
     assertThat(player.isCommandAvailable(COMMAND_SEEK_TO_NEXT)).isTrue();
+
+    player.release();
   }
 
   @Test
@@ -9544,6 +9586,8 @@ public final class ExoPlayerTest {
     player.seekTo(/* mediaItemIndex= */ 3, /* positionMs= */ 0);
     verify(mockListener).onAvailableCommandsChanged(commandsWithSeekToPreviousWindow);
     verify(mockListener, times(3)).onAvailableCommandsChanged(any());
+
+    player.release();
   }
 
   @Test
@@ -9582,6 +9626,8 @@ public final class ExoPlayerTest {
     player.seekTo(/* mediaItemIndex= */ 0, /* positionMs= */ 0);
     verify(mockListener).onAvailableCommandsChanged(commandsWithSeekToNextWindow);
     verify(mockListener, times(3)).onAvailableCommandsChanged(any());
+
+    player.release();
   }
 
   @Test
@@ -9598,6 +9644,8 @@ public final class ExoPlayerTest {
     player.seekTo(/* mediaItemIndex= */ 0, /* positionMs= */ 100);
     // Check that there were no other calls to onAvailableCommandsChanged.
     verify(mockListener).onAvailableCommandsChanged(any());
+
+    player.release();
   }
 
   @Test
@@ -9657,6 +9705,8 @@ public final class ExoPlayerTest {
     runUntilPlaybackState(player, Player.STATE_ENDED);
     verify(mockListener).onAvailableCommandsChanged(commandsWithSeekInCurrentAndToPreviousWindow);
     verify(mockListener, times(4)).onAvailableCommandsChanged(any());
+
+    player.release();
   }
 
   @Test
@@ -9679,6 +9729,8 @@ public final class ExoPlayerTest {
 
     player.addMediaSource(new FakeMediaSource());
     verify(mockListener, times(2)).onAvailableCommandsChanged(any());
+
+    player.release();
   }
 
   @Test
@@ -9701,6 +9753,8 @@ public final class ExoPlayerTest {
 
     player.addMediaSource(/* index= */ 0, new FakeMediaSource());
     verify(mockListener, times(2)).onAvailableCommandsChanged(any());
+
+    player.release();
   }
 
   @Test
@@ -9731,6 +9785,8 @@ public final class ExoPlayerTest {
     player.removeMediaItem(/* index= */ 0);
     verify(mockListener).onAvailableCommandsChanged(emptyTimelineCommands);
     verify(mockListener, times(3)).onAvailableCommandsChanged(any());
+
+    player.release();
   }
 
   @Test
@@ -9762,6 +9818,8 @@ public final class ExoPlayerTest {
     player.removeMediaItem(/* index= */ 0);
     verify(mockListener).onAvailableCommandsChanged(emptyTimelineCommands);
     verify(mockListener, times(3)).onAvailableCommandsChanged(any());
+
+    player.release();
   }
 
   @Test
@@ -9781,6 +9839,8 @@ public final class ExoPlayerTest {
     player.removeMediaItem(/* index= */ 0);
     verify(mockListener).onAvailableCommandsChanged(defaultCommands);
     verify(mockListener, times(2)).onAvailableCommandsChanged(any());
+
+    player.release();
   }
 
   @Test
@@ -9803,6 +9863,8 @@ public final class ExoPlayerTest {
     player.setRepeatMode(Player.REPEAT_MODE_ALL);
     verify(mockListener).onAvailableCommandsChanged(commandsWithSeekToPreviousAndNextWindow);
     verify(mockListener, times(2)).onAvailableCommandsChanged(any());
+
+    player.release();
   }
 
   @Test
@@ -9817,6 +9879,8 @@ public final class ExoPlayerTest {
 
     player.setRepeatMode(Player.REPEAT_MODE_ONE);
     verify(mockListener).onAvailableCommandsChanged(any());
+
+    player.release();
   }
 
   @Test
@@ -9843,6 +9907,8 @@ public final class ExoPlayerTest {
     player.setShuffleModeEnabled(true);
     verify(mockListener).onAvailableCommandsChanged(commandsWithSeekToPreviousWindow);
     verify(mockListener, times(2)).onAvailableCommandsChanged(any());
+
+    player.release();
   }
 
   @Test
@@ -9870,6 +9936,8 @@ public final class ExoPlayerTest {
             .uid;
     assertThat(error.mediaPeriodId.periodUid).isEqualTo(period1Uid);
     assertThat(player.getCurrentMediaItemIndex()).isEqualTo(1);
+
+    player.release();
   }
 
   @Test
@@ -9916,6 +9984,8 @@ public final class ExoPlayerTest {
             .uid;
     assertThat(error.mediaPeriodId.periodUid).isEqualTo(period1Uid);
     assertThat(player.getCurrentMediaItemIndex()).isEqualTo(1);
+
+    player.release();
   }
 
   @Test
@@ -9979,6 +10049,8 @@ public final class ExoPlayerTest {
             .uid;
     assertThat(error.mediaPeriodId.periodUid).isEqualTo(period1Uid);
     assertThat(player.getCurrentMediaItemIndex()).isEqualTo(1);
+
+    player.release();
   }
 
   @Test
@@ -10030,6 +10102,8 @@ public final class ExoPlayerTest {
     inOrderEvents
         .verify(mockListener)
         .onMediaItemTransition(any(), any(), eq(Player.MEDIA_ITEM_TRANSITION_REASON_AUTO));
+
+    player.release();
   }
 
   @Test
@@ -10059,6 +10133,8 @@ public final class ExoPlayerTest {
 
     runUntilSleepingForOffload(player, /* expectedSleepForOffload= */ true);
     assertThat(player.experimentalIsSleepingForOffload()).isTrue();
+
+    player.release();
   }
 
   @Test
@@ -10079,6 +10155,8 @@ public final class ExoPlayerTest {
     runUntilSleepingForOffload(player, /* expectedSleepForOffload= */ false);
     assertThat(player.experimentalIsSleepingForOffload()).isFalse();
     runUntilPlaybackState(player, Player.STATE_ENDED);
+
+    player.release();
   }
 
   @Test
@@ -10097,6 +10175,8 @@ public final class ExoPlayerTest {
     runUntilSleepingForOffload(player, /* expectedSleepForOffload= */ false);
     assertThat(player.experimentalIsSleepingForOffload()).isFalse();
     runUntilPlaybackState(player, Player.STATE_ENDED);
+
+    player.release();
   }
 
   @Test
@@ -10121,6 +10201,8 @@ public final class ExoPlayerTest {
 
     assertThat(newPosition - currentPosition).isNotEqualTo(0);
     assertThat(newPosition).isEqualTo(800);
+
+    player.release();
   }
 
   @Test
@@ -10146,6 +10228,8 @@ public final class ExoPlayerTest {
     long currentPosition = player.getCurrentPosition();
 
     assertThat(currentPosition).isEqualTo(800);
+
+    player.release();
   }
 
   @Test
@@ -10173,6 +10257,8 @@ public final class ExoPlayerTest {
     long currentPosition = player.getCurrentPosition();
 
     assertThat(currentPosition).isEqualTo(1800);
+
+    player.release();
   }
 
   @Test
@@ -10400,6 +10486,8 @@ public final class ExoPlayerTest {
 
     verify(mockListener)
         .onPlaybackParametersChanged(new PlaybackParameters(/* speed= */ 2, /* pitch= */ 2));
+
+    player.release();
   }
 
   @Test
@@ -12361,6 +12449,8 @@ public final class ExoPlayerTest {
             .build());
 
     assertThat(player.getMediaMetadata()).isEqualTo(mediaMetadata);
+
+    player.release();
   }
 
   @Test
@@ -12386,12 +12476,15 @@ public final class ExoPlayerTest {
     shadowOf(Looper.getMainLooper()).idle();
 
     assertThat(player.getMediaMetadata()).isEqualTo(mediaMetadata);
+
+    player.release();
   }
 
   @Test
   @Config(sdk = Config.ALL_SDKS)
   public void builder_inBackgroundThreadWithAllowedAnyThreadMethods_doesNotThrow()
       throws Exception {
+    AtomicReference<Player> playerReference = new AtomicReference<>();
     Thread builderThread =
         new Thread(
             () -> {
@@ -12403,6 +12496,7 @@ public final class ExoPlayerTest {
               player.getClock();
               player.getApplicationLooper();
               player.getPlaybackLooper();
+              playerReference.set(player);
             });
     AtomicReference<Throwable> builderThrow = new AtomicReference<>();
     builderThread.setUncaughtExceptionHandler((thread, throwable) -> builderThrow.set(throwable));
@@ -12411,6 +12505,7 @@ public final class ExoPlayerTest {
     builderThread.join();
 
     assertThat(builderThrow.get()).isNull();
+    playerReference.get().release();
   }
 
   @Test
@@ -12427,6 +12522,8 @@ public final class ExoPlayerTest {
 
     verify(playerListener).onPlaylistMetadataChanged(mediaMetadata);
     verify(analyticsListener).onPlaylistMetadataChanged(any(), eq(mediaMetadata));
+
+    player.release();
   }
 
   @Test
@@ -12633,6 +12730,8 @@ public final class ExoPlayerTest {
 
     assertThat(minVolume).isEqualTo(0);
     assertThat(maxVolume).isEqualTo(0);
+
+    player.release();
   }
 
   @Test
@@ -12653,6 +12752,8 @@ public final class ExoPlayerTest {
     runUntilPlaybackState(player, Player.STATE_ENDED);
 
     // Assert that playing works without getting stuck due to the memory used by the back buffer.
+
+    player.release();
   }
 
   @Test