diff --git a/examples/issue-0029.sx b/examples/issue-0029.sx
deleted file mode 100644
index c7a5d48..0000000
--- a/examples/issue-0029.sx
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,47 +0,0 @@
-// issue-0029: Feature — add explicit destructors to the GPU protocol so
-// resources can be freed without leaking.
-//
-// ── Proposed additions to library/modules/gpu/api.sx ──────────────────────
-//
-//   destroy_shader  :: (h: ShaderHandle);
-//   destroy_buffer  :: (h: BufferHandle);
-//   destroy_texture :: (h: TextureHandle);
-//
-// ── Why ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
-//
-// Today, library/modules/ui/glyph_cache.sx's `grow()` method recreates
-// the atlas texture at a larger size but has no way to release the old
-// one — see the comment in metal.sx that explicitly notes the leak. The
-// GL path uses glDeleteTextures(1, @self.texture_id); the GPU protocol
-// has no equivalent yet.
-//
-// ── Implementation notes ──────────────────────────────────────────────────
-//
-// Metal backend: send `release` to the MTLTexture / MTLBuffer /
-// MTLRenderPipelineState (or call CFRelease, since these are
-// CFTypeRef-compatible). Clear the corresponding slot in
-// MetalGPU.textures / buffers / shaders to `null` / 0.
-//
-// GL backend (future): glDeleteTextures / glDeleteBuffers / glDeleteProgram.
-//
-// Handle lifecycle: after destroy, the slot in the backend List is freed.
-// New allocations can take that slot or grow the list. Caller's handles
-// remain valid until destroy. Don't aggressively re-use slots in MVP;
-// keep handles append-only with a `null` marker for destroyed entries
-// (matches the current shape).
-//
-// ── Touch points ──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
-//
-// library/modules/gpu/api.sx           — add 3 protocol method signatures
-// library/modules/gpu/metal.sx         — implement them (release + null
-//                                         the slot)
-// library/modules/ui/glyph_cache.sx    — call destroy_texture(old_handle)
-//                                         in grow() before creating the
-//                                         new atlas
-//
-// ── Syntax constraint ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────
-//
-// None — straight protocol-method addition.
-
-#import "modules/std.sx";
-main :: () -> s32 { 0; }
diff --git a/library/modules/gpu/api.sx b/library/modules/gpu/api.sx
index c25bb17..115d99a 100644
--- a/library/modules/gpu/api.sx
+++ b/library/modules/gpu/api.sx
@@ -38,6 +38,14 @@ GPU :: protocol {
     create_texture :: (w: s32, h: s32, format: TextureFormat, pixels: *void) -> TextureHandle;
     update_texture_region :: (tex: TextureHandle, x: s32, y: s32, w: s32, h: s32, pixels: *void);
 
+    // Release a GPU resource. Implementations release the backing object and
+    // null the slot so the handle becomes inert. Calling with handle 0 or
+    // an already-destroyed handle is a no-op. Handles are not re-used; the
+    // backing List entry stays at its index with a null sentinel.
+    destroy_shader  :: (sh: ShaderHandle);
+    destroy_buffer  :: (buf: BufferHandle);
+    destroy_texture :: (tex: TextureHandle);
+
     set_shader           :: (sh: ShaderHandle);
     set_vertex_buffer    :: (buf: BufferHandle);
     set_texture          :: (slot: u32, tex: TextureHandle);
diff --git a/library/modules/gpu/metal.sx b/library/modules/gpu/metal.sx
index 38e2296..8e9d1ea 100644
--- a/library/modules/gpu/metal.sx
+++ b/library/modules/gpu/metal.sx
@@ -166,6 +166,24 @@ impl GPU for MetalGPU {
         }
     }
 
+    destroy_shader :: (self: *MetalGPU, sh: ShaderHandle) {
+        inline if OS == .ios {
+            metal_destroy_shader_ios(self, sh);
+        }
+    }
+
+    destroy_buffer :: (self: *MetalGPU, buf: BufferHandle) {
+        inline if OS == .ios {
+            metal_destroy_buffer_ios(self, buf);
+        }
+    }
+
+    destroy_texture :: (self: *MetalGPU, tex: TextureHandle) {
+        inline if OS == .ios {
+            metal_destroy_texture_ios(self, tex);
+        }
+    }
+
     // ── Per-draw state ───────────────────────────────────────────────────
     // All operate on `self.encoder`, which is live only between begin_frame
     // and end_frame. Calling these outside that window is a silent no-op.
@@ -557,6 +575,51 @@ metal_update_texture_region_ios :: (self: *MetalGPU, handle: u32, x: s32, y: s32
         region, 0, pixels, bytes_per_row);
 }
 
+// ── Destroy ──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+// `release` on a Metal object whose retain count reaches zero deallocates
+// it. Our resource Lists hold the only strong reference (Metal returns
+// retained-+1 objects from `new*` and our `append` doesn't retain), so a
+// single `release` is correct. Slots are null'd so a subsequent lookup
+// short-circuits; the List length doesn't shrink (would break later
+// handle->index mapping).
+
+metal_destroy_shader_ios :: (self: *MetalGPU, handle: u32) {
+    inline if OS != .ios { return; }
+    if handle == 0 { return; }
+    h64 : s64 = xx handle;
+    if h64 > self.shaders.len { return; }
+    obj := self.shaders.items[handle - 1];
+    if obj == null { return; }
+    msg : (*void, *void) -> void = xx objc_msgSend;
+    msg(obj, sel_registerName("release".ptr));
+    self.shaders.items[handle - 1] = null;
+}
+
+metal_destroy_buffer_ios :: (self: *MetalGPU, handle: u32) {
+    inline if OS != .ios { return; }
+    if handle == 0 { return; }
+    h64 : s64 = xx handle;
+    if h64 > self.buffers.len { return; }
+    obj := self.buffers.items[handle - 1];
+    if obj == null { return; }
+    msg : (*void, *void) -> void = xx objc_msgSend;
+    msg(obj, sel_registerName("release".ptr));
+    self.buffers.items[handle - 1] = null;
+}
+
+metal_destroy_texture_ios :: (self: *MetalGPU, handle: u32) {
+    inline if OS != .ios { return; }
+    if handle == 0 { return; }
+    h64 : s64 = xx handle;
+    if h64 > self.textures.len { return; }
+    obj := self.textures.items[handle - 1].tex;
+    if obj == null { return; }
+    msg : (*void, *void) -> void = xx objc_msgSend;
+    msg(obj, sel_registerName("release".ptr));
+    self.textures.items[handle - 1].tex = null;
+    self.textures.items[handle - 1].bytes_per_pixel = 0;
+}
+
 // ── Per-draw state ───────────────────────────────────────────────────────
 
 metal_set_shader_ios :: (self: *MetalGPU, sh: u32) {
diff --git a/library/modules/ui/glyph_cache.sx b/library/modules/ui/glyph_cache.sx
index 37b7e5a..ef9bf8d 100755
--- a/library/modules/ui/glyph_cache.sx
+++ b/library/modules/ui/glyph_cache.sx
@@ -501,9 +501,7 @@ GlyphCache :: struct {
 
         // Recreate atlas at the new size.
         if self.gpu != null {
-            // No destroy_texture in the GPU protocol yet — old atlas
-            // leaks in the backend table until process exit. Atlas grow
-            // is rare so this is acceptable for now.
+            self.gpu.destroy_texture(self.texture_id);
             self.texture_id = self.gpu.create_texture(new_w, new_h, .r8, xx new_bitmap);
         } else {
             glDeleteTextures(1, @self.texture_id);