diff --git a/gn/gpu.gni b/gn/gpu.gni
index 23ffc43..4a225c6 100644
--- a/gn/gpu.gni
+++ b/gn/gpu.gni
@@ -701,6 +701,7 @@
 
 skia_metal_sources = [
   "$_include/gpu/mtl/GrMtlTypes.h",
+  "$_include/private/GrMtlTypesPriv.h",
   "$_src/gpu/mtl/GrMtlBuffer.h",
   "$_src/gpu/mtl/GrMtlBuffer.mm",
   "$_src/gpu/mtl/GrMtlCaps.h",
@@ -738,6 +739,7 @@
   "$_src/gpu/mtl/GrMtlTextureRenderTarget.mm",
   "$_src/gpu/mtl/GrMtlTrampoline.h",
   "$_src/gpu/mtl/GrMtlTrampoline.mm",
+  "$_src/gpu/mtl/GrMtlTypesPriv.cpp",
   "$_src/gpu/mtl/GrMtlUniformHandler.h",
   "$_src/gpu/mtl/GrMtlUniformHandler.mm",
   "$_src/gpu/mtl/GrMtlUtil.h",
diff --git a/include/gpu/GrBackendSurface.h b/include/gpu/GrBackendSurface.h
index c42f7bc..58c7697 100644
--- a/include/gpu/GrBackendSurface.h
+++ b/include/gpu/GrBackendSurface.h
@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@
 
 #ifdef SK_METAL
 #include "include/gpu/mtl/GrMtlTypes.h"
+#include "include/private/GrMtlTypesPriv.h"
 #endif
 
 #if !SK_SUPPORT_GPU
@@ -145,6 +146,7 @@
                      const GrVkImageInfo& vkInfo);
 
 #ifdef SK_METAL
+    // This will take a strong reference to the MTLTexture in mtlInfo.
     GrBackendTexture(int width,
                      int height,
                      GrMipMapped,
@@ -253,11 +255,11 @@
     union {
         GrGLTextureInfo fGLInfo;
         GrVkBackendSurfaceInfo fVkInfo;
-#ifdef SK_METAL
-        GrMtlTextureInfo fMtlInfo;
-#endif
         GrMockTextureInfo fMockInfo;
     };
+#ifdef SK_METAL
+    GrMtlBackendSurfaceInfo fMtlInfo;
+#endif
 };
 
 class SK_API GrBackendRenderTarget {
@@ -281,6 +283,7 @@
     GrBackendRenderTarget(int width, int height, int sampleCnt, const GrVkImageInfo& vkInfo);
 
 #ifdef SK_METAL
+    // This will take a strong reference to the MTLTexture in mtlInfo.
     GrBackendRenderTarget(int width,
                           int height,
                           int sampleCnt,
@@ -370,17 +373,16 @@
     int fSampleCnt;
     int fStencilBits;
     GrPixelConfig fConfig;
-
     GrBackendApi fBackend;
 
     union {
         GrGLFramebufferInfo fGLInfo;
         GrVkBackendSurfaceInfo fVkInfo;
-#ifdef SK_METAL
-        GrMtlTextureInfo fMtlInfo;
-#endif
         GrMockRenderTargetInfo fMockInfo;
     };
+#ifdef SK_METAL
+    GrMtlBackendSurfaceInfo fMtlInfo;
+#endif
 };
 
 #endif
diff --git a/include/gpu/GrContext.h b/include/gpu/GrContext.h
index 850e157..804f238 100644
--- a/include/gpu/GrContext.h
+++ b/include/gpu/GrContext.h
@@ -61,9 +61,8 @@
 #ifdef SK_METAL
     /**
      * Makes a GrContext which uses Metal as the backend. The device parameter is an MTLDevice
-     * and queue is an MTLCommandQueue which should be used by the backend. These objects must
-     * have a ref on them which can be transferred to Ganesh which will release the ref when the
-     * GrContext is destroyed.
+     * and queue is an MTLCommandQueue which should be used by the backend. These objects will
+     * be retained by Ganesh, and released when the GrContext is destroyed.
      */
     static sk_sp<GrContext> MakeMetal(void* device, void* queue, const GrContextOptions& options);
     static sk_sp<GrContext> MakeMetal(void* device, void* queue);
diff --git a/include/gpu/mtl/GrMtlTypes.h b/include/gpu/mtl/GrMtlTypes.h
index 5dffe25..8d96c85 100644
--- a/include/gpu/mtl/GrMtlTypes.h
+++ b/include/gpu/mtl/GrMtlTypes.h
@@ -17,8 +17,10 @@
 
 ///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
 /**
- * Types for interacting with Metal resources created externally to Skia. Holds the MTLTexture as a
- * const void*. This is used by GrBackendObjects.
+ * Types for interacting with Metal resources created externally to Skia. Holds
+ * the MTLTexture as a weak const void*. This is used by GrBackendObjects. Note
+ * that GrBackendObjects created with a GrMtlTextureInfo will take a strong
+ * reference to the MTLTexture.
  */
 struct GrMtlTextureInfo {
 public:
diff --git a/include/private/GrMtlTypesPriv.h b/include/private/GrMtlTypesPriv.h
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..473cc0b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/include/private/GrMtlTypesPriv.h
@@ -0,0 +1,40 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright 2019 Google Inc.
+ *
+ * Use of this source code is governed by a BSD-style license that can be
+ * found in the LICENSE file.
+ */
+
+#ifndef GrMtlTypesPriv_DEFINED
+#define GrMtlTypesPriv_DEFINED
+
+#include "include/gpu/mtl/GrMtlTypes.h"
+
+// This struct is to used to store the the actual information about the Metal backend texture on
+// GrBackendTexture and GrBackendRenderTarget. This differs from the public GrMtlTextureInfo in
+// that it maintains a strong reference to the MTLTexture object.
+struct GrMtlBackendSurfaceInfo {
+    GrMtlBackendSurfaceInfo() {}
+    GrMtlBackendSurfaceInfo(const GrMtlBackendSurfaceInfo&) = delete;
+    GrMtlBackendSurfaceInfo& operator=(const GrMtlBackendSurfaceInfo&) = delete;
+    explicit GrMtlBackendSurfaceInfo(const GrMtlTextureInfo& info);
+    ~GrMtlBackendSurfaceInfo();
+
+    void cleanup();
+
+    // Assigns the passed in GrMtlBackendSurfaceInfo to this object. if isValid is true we will also
+    // attempt to unref the old fTexture.
+    void assign(const GrMtlBackendSurfaceInfo&, bool isValid);
+
+    GrMtlTextureInfo snapTextureInfo() const;
+
+#if GR_TEST_UTILS
+    bool operator==(const GrMtlBackendSurfaceInfo& that) const;
+#endif
+
+private:
+    // Strong reference to the MTLTexture, maintained by CFRetain and CFRelease.
+    const void* fTexture = nullptr;
+};
+
+#endif
diff --git a/src/gpu/GrBackendSurface.cpp b/src/gpu/GrBackendSurface.cpp
index dc58250..a2313d2 100644
--- a/src/gpu/GrBackendSurface.cpp
+++ b/src/gpu/GrBackendSurface.cpp
@@ -250,6 +250,11 @@
         fVkInfo.cleanup();
     }
 #endif
+#ifdef SK_METAL
+    if (this->isValid() && GrBackendApi::kMetal == fBackend) {
+        fMtlInfo.cleanup();
+    }
+#endif
 }
 
 GrBackendTexture::GrBackendTexture(const GrBackendTexture& that) : fIsValid(false) {
@@ -279,7 +284,7 @@
             break;
 #ifdef SK_METAL
         case GrBackendApi::kMetal:
-            fMtlInfo = that.fMtlInfo;
+            fMtlInfo.assign(that.fMtlInfo, this->isValid());
             break;
 #endif
         case GrBackendApi::kMock:
@@ -329,7 +334,7 @@
 #ifdef SK_METAL
 bool GrBackendTexture::getMtlTextureInfo(GrMtlTextureInfo* outInfo) const {
     if (this->isValid() && GrBackendApi::kMetal == fBackend) {
-        *outInfo = fMtlInfo;
+        *outInfo = fMtlInfo.snapTextureInfo();
         return true;
     }
     return false;
@@ -376,7 +381,8 @@
 #endif
 #ifdef SK_METAL
         case GrBackendApi::kMetal:
-            return this->fMtlInfo.fTexture == that.fMtlInfo.fTexture;
+            return this->fMtlInfo.snapTextureInfo().fTexture ==
+                   that.fMtlInfo.snapTextureInfo().fTexture;
 #endif
         case GrBackendApi::kMock:
             return fMockInfo.fID == that.fMockInfo.fID;
@@ -548,6 +554,11 @@
         fVkInfo.cleanup();
     }
 #endif
+#ifdef SK_METAL
+    if (this->isValid() && GrBackendApi::kMetal == fBackend) {
+        fMtlInfo.cleanup();
+    }
+#endif
 }
 
 GrBackendRenderTarget::GrBackendRenderTarget(const GrBackendRenderTarget& that) : fIsValid(false) {
@@ -578,7 +589,7 @@
             break;
 #ifdef SK_METAL
         case GrBackendApi::kMetal:
-            fMtlInfo = that.fMtlInfo;
+            fMtlInfo.assign(that.fMtlInfo, this->isValid());
             break;
 #endif
         case GrBackendApi::kMock:
@@ -621,7 +632,7 @@
 #ifdef SK_METAL
 bool GrBackendRenderTarget::getMtlTextureInfo(GrMtlTextureInfo* outInfo) const {
     if (this->isValid() && GrBackendApi::kMetal == fBackend) {
-        *outInfo = fMtlInfo;
+        *outInfo = fMtlInfo.snapTextureInfo();
         return true;
     }
     return false;
diff --git a/src/gpu/mtl/GrMtlGpu.mm b/src/gpu/mtl/GrMtlGpu.mm
index 8fae4b6..48af6ae 100644
--- a/src/gpu/mtl/GrMtlGpu.mm
+++ b/src/gpu/mtl/GrMtlGpu.mm
@@ -495,13 +495,12 @@
     return std::move(tex);
 }
 
-static id<MTLTexture> get_texture_from_backend(const GrBackendTexture& backendTex,
-                                               GrWrapOwnership ownership) {
+static id<MTLTexture> get_texture_from_backend(const GrBackendTexture& backendTex) {
     GrMtlTextureInfo textureInfo;
     if (!backendTex.getMtlTextureInfo(&textureInfo)) {
         return nil;
     }
-    return GrGetMTLTexture(textureInfo.fTexture, ownership);
+    return GrGetMTLTexture(textureInfo.fTexture);
 }
 
 static id<MTLTexture> get_texture_from_backend(const GrBackendRenderTarget& backendRT) {
@@ -509,7 +508,7 @@
     if (!backendRT.getMtlTextureInfo(&textureInfo)) {
         return nil;
     }
-    return GrGetMTLTexture(textureInfo.fTexture, GrWrapOwnership::kBorrow_GrWrapOwnership);
+    return GrGetMTLTexture(textureInfo.fTexture);
 }
 
 static inline void init_surface_desc(GrSurfaceDesc* surfaceDesc, id<MTLTexture> mtlTexture,
@@ -527,7 +526,7 @@
 sk_sp<GrTexture> GrMtlGpu::onWrapBackendTexture(const GrBackendTexture& backendTex,
                                                 GrWrapOwnership ownership,
                                                 GrWrapCacheable cacheable, GrIOType ioType) {
-    id<MTLTexture> mtlTexture = get_texture_from_backend(backendTex, ownership);
+    id<MTLTexture> mtlTexture = get_texture_from_backend(backendTex);
     if (!mtlTexture) {
         return nullptr;
     }
@@ -542,7 +541,7 @@
                                                           int sampleCnt,
                                                           GrWrapOwnership ownership,
                                                           GrWrapCacheable cacheable) {
-    id<MTLTexture> mtlTexture = get_texture_from_backend(backendTex, ownership);
+    id<MTLTexture> mtlTexture = get_texture_from_backend(backendTex);
     if (!mtlTexture) {
         return nullptr;
     }
@@ -576,8 +575,7 @@
 
 sk_sp<GrRenderTarget> GrMtlGpu::onWrapBackendTextureAsRenderTarget(
         const GrBackendTexture& backendTex, int sampleCnt) {
-    id<MTLTexture> mtlTexture = get_texture_from_backend(backendTex,
-                                                         GrWrapOwnership::kBorrow_GrWrapOwnership);
+    id<MTLTexture> mtlTexture = get_texture_from_backend(backendTex);
     if (!mtlTexture) {
         return nullptr;
     }
@@ -697,7 +695,7 @@
     [cmdBuffer waitUntilCompleted];
     transferBuffer = nil;
 
-    info->fTexture = GrReleaseId(testTexture);
+    info->fTexture = GrGetPtrFromId(testTexture);
 
     return true;
 }
@@ -802,12 +800,6 @@
 
 void GrMtlGpu::deleteBackendTexture(const GrBackendTexture& tex) {
     SkASSERT(GrBackendApi::kMetal == tex.fBackend);
-
-    GrMtlTextureInfo info;
-    if (tex.getMtlTextureInfo(&info)) {
-        // Adopts the metal texture so that ARC will clean it up.
-        GrGetMTLTexture(info.fTexture, GrWrapOwnership::kAdopt_GrWrapOwnership);
-    }
 }
 
 #if GR_TEST_UTILS
@@ -818,8 +810,7 @@
     if (!tex.getMtlTextureInfo(&info)) {
         return false;
     }
-    id<MTLTexture> mtlTexture = GrGetMTLTexture(info.fTexture,
-                                                GrWrapOwnership::kBorrow_GrWrapOwnership);
+    id<MTLTexture> mtlTexture = GrGetMTLTexture(info.fTexture);
     if (!mtlTexture) {
         return false;
     }
@@ -855,8 +846,6 @@
     GrMtlTextureInfo info;
     if (rt.getMtlTextureInfo(&info)) {
         this->testingOnly_flushGpuAndSync();
-        // Adopts the metal texture so that ARC will clean it up.
-        GrGetMTLTexture(info.fTexture, GrWrapOwnership::kAdopt_GrWrapOwnership);
     }
 }
 
diff --git a/src/gpu/mtl/GrMtlTrampoline.mm b/src/gpu/mtl/GrMtlTrampoline.mm
index c87223b..b73822e 100644
--- a/src/gpu/mtl/GrMtlTrampoline.mm
+++ b/src/gpu/mtl/GrMtlTrampoline.mm
@@ -17,9 +17,7 @@
                                       const GrContextOptions& options,
                                       void* device,
                                       void* queue) {
-    return GrMtlGpu::Make(context,
-                          options,
-                          (__bridge_transfer id<MTLDevice>)device,
-                          (__bridge_transfer id<MTLCommandQueue>)queue);
+    return GrMtlGpu::Make(
+            context, options, (__bridge id<MTLDevice>)device, (__bridge id<MTLCommandQueue>)queue);
 }
 
diff --git a/src/gpu/mtl/GrMtlTypesPriv.cpp b/src/gpu/mtl/GrMtlTypesPriv.cpp
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..1302312
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/gpu/mtl/GrMtlTypesPriv.cpp
@@ -0,0 +1,43 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright 2019 Google Inc.
+ *
+ * Use of this source code is governed by a BSD-style license that can be
+ * found in the LICENSE file.
+ */
+
+#include "include/private/GrMtlTypesPriv.h"
+
+#include <CoreFoundation/CoreFoundation.h>
+
+GrMtlBackendSurfaceInfo::GrMtlBackendSurfaceInfo(const GrMtlTextureInfo& info) : fTexture(info.fTexture) {
+  CFRetain(fTexture);
+}
+
+GrMtlBackendSurfaceInfo::~GrMtlBackendSurfaceInfo() {
+  SkASSERT(!fTexture);
+}
+
+void GrMtlBackendSurfaceInfo::cleanup() {
+  CFRelease(fTexture);
+  fTexture = nullptr;
+}
+
+void GrMtlBackendSurfaceInfo::assign(const GrMtlBackendSurfaceInfo& that, bool isValid) {
+  CFRetain(that.fTexture);
+  if (isValid)
+    CFRelease(fTexture);
+  fTexture = that.fTexture;
+}
+
+GrMtlTextureInfo GrMtlBackendSurfaceInfo::snapTextureInfo() const {
+  GrMtlTextureInfo textureInfo;
+  textureInfo.fTexture = fTexture;
+  return textureInfo;
+}
+
+#if GR_TEST_UTILS
+bool GrMtlBackendSurfaceInfo::operator==(const GrMtlBackendSurfaceInfo& that) const {
+  return fTexture == that.fTexture;
+}
+#endif
+
diff --git a/src/gpu/mtl/GrMtlUtil.h b/src/gpu/mtl/GrMtlUtil.h
index 2026186..a305b91 100644
--- a/src/gpu/mtl/GrMtlUtil.h
+++ b/src/gpu/mtl/GrMtlUtil.h
@@ -30,28 +30,26 @@
 #endif
 #endif
 
+#if !__has_feature(objc_arc)
+#error This file must be compiled with Arc. Use -fobjc-arc flag
+#endif
+
 /**
  * Returns the Metal texture format for the given GrPixelConfig
  */
 bool GrPixelConfigToMTLFormat(GrPixelConfig config, MTLPixelFormat* format);
 
 /**
- * Returns a id<MTLTexture> to the MTLTexture pointed at by the const void*. Will use
- * __bridge_transfer if we are adopting ownership.
+ * Returns a id<MTLTexture> to the MTLTexture pointed at by the const void* (uses __bridge).
  */
-id<MTLTexture> GrGetMTLTexture(const void* mtlTexture, GrWrapOwnership);
+id<MTLTexture> GrGetMTLTexture(const void* mtlTexture);
 
 /**
- * Returns a const void* to whatever the id object is pointing to. Always uses __bridge.
+ * Returns a weak const void* to whatever the id object is pointing to (uses __bridge).
  */
 const void* GrGetPtrFromId(id idObject);
 
 /**
- * Returns a const void* to whatever the id object is pointing to. Always uses __bridge_retained.
- */
-const void* GrReleaseId(id idObject);
-
-/**
  * Returns a MTLTextureDescriptor which describes the MTLTexture. Useful when creating a duplicate
  * MTLTexture without the same storage allocation.
  */
diff --git a/src/gpu/mtl/GrMtlUtil.mm b/src/gpu/mtl/GrMtlUtil.mm
index 3b2b3f3..f3414c9 100644
--- a/src/gpu/mtl/GrMtlUtil.mm
+++ b/src/gpu/mtl/GrMtlUtil.mm
@@ -109,22 +109,14 @@
     return false;
 }
 
-id<MTLTexture> GrGetMTLTexture(const void* mtlTexture, GrWrapOwnership wrapOwnership) {
-    if (GrWrapOwnership::kAdopt_GrWrapOwnership == wrapOwnership) {
-        return (__bridge_transfer id<MTLTexture>)mtlTexture;
-    } else {
-        return (__bridge id<MTLTexture>)mtlTexture;
-    }
+id<MTLTexture> GrGetMTLTexture(const void* mtlTexture) {
+    return (__bridge id<MTLTexture>)mtlTexture;
 }
 
 const void* GrGetPtrFromId(id idObject) {
     return (__bridge const void*)idObject;
 }
 
-const void* GrReleaseId(id idObject) {
-    return (__bridge_retained const void*)idObject;
-}
-
 MTLTextureDescriptor* GrGetMTLTextureDescriptor(id<MTLTexture> mtlTexture) {
     MTLTextureDescriptor* texDesc = [[MTLTextureDescriptor alloc] init];
     texDesc.textureType = mtlTexture.textureType;
@@ -219,7 +211,6 @@
 // CPP Utils
 
 GrMTLPixelFormat GrGetMTLPixelFormatFromMtlTextureInfo(const GrMtlTextureInfo& info) {
-    id<MTLTexture> mtlTexture = GrGetMTLTexture(info.fTexture,
-                                                GrWrapOwnership::kBorrow_GrWrapOwnership);
+    id<MTLTexture> mtlTexture = GrGetMTLTexture(info.fTexture);
     return static_cast<GrMTLPixelFormat>(mtlTexture.pixelFormat);
 }
diff --git a/tools/gpu/mtl/MtlTestContext.mm b/tools/gpu/mtl/MtlTestContext.mm
index e822431..eeb1870 100644
--- a/tools/gpu/mtl/MtlTestContext.mm
+++ b/tools/gpu/mtl/MtlTestContext.mm
@@ -124,9 +124,7 @@
     void finish() override {}
 
     sk_sp<GrContext> makeGrContext(const GrContextOptions& options) override {
-        return GrContext::MakeMetal((__bridge_retained void*)fDevice,
-                                    (__bridge_retained void*)fQueue,
-                                    options);
+        return GrContext::MakeMetal((__bridge void*)fDevice, (__bridge void*)fQueue, options);
     }
 
     id<MTLDevice> device() { return fDevice; }