diff --git a/include/assimp/metadata.h b/include/assimp/metadata.h
index e57525092..ded08d14b 100644
--- a/include/assimp/metadata.h
+++ b/include/assimp/metadata.h
@@ -134,7 +134,6 @@ struct aiMetadata {
         // empty
     }
 
-
     /** 
      *  @brief The destructor.
      */
@@ -199,6 +198,14 @@ struct aiMetadata {
         return data;
     }
 
+    /**
+     *  @brief Deallocates property fields + keys.
+     */
+    static inline
+    void Dealloc( aiMetadata *metadata ) {
+        delete metadata;
+    }
+
 	template<typename T>
 	inline void Add(const std::string& key, const T& value)
 	{
diff --git a/test/unit/utMetadata.cpp b/test/unit/utMetadata.cpp
index fc9216266..b44de1eb2 100644
--- a/test/unit/utMetadata.cpp
+++ b/test/unit/utMetadata.cpp
@@ -55,7 +55,7 @@ protected:
     }
 
     virtual void TearDown() {
-        delete m_data;
+        aiMetadata::Dealloc( m_data );
     }
 
 };