diff --git a/libraries/networking/src/ResourceCache.cpp b/libraries/networking/src/ResourceCache.cpp
index 4a80628da4..d1dabd5693 100644
--- a/libraries/networking/src/ResourceCache.cpp
+++ b/libraries/networking/src/ResourceCache.cpp
@@ -123,13 +123,13 @@ ScriptableResource::ScriptableResource(const QUrl& url) :
     QObject(nullptr),
     _url(url) {}
 
+void ScriptableResource::release() {
+    disconnectHelper();
+    _resource.reset();
+}
+
 void ScriptableResource::finished(bool success) {
-    if (_progressConnection) {
-        disconnect(_progressConnection);
-    }
-    if (_finishedConnection) {
-        disconnect(_finishedConnection);
-    }
+    disconnectHelper();
 
     _isLoaded = true;
     _isFailed = !success;
@@ -140,6 +140,15 @@ void ScriptableResource::finished(bool success) {
     emit loadedChanged(_isLoaded);
 }
 
+void ScriptableResource::disconnectHelper() {
+    if (_progressConnection) {
+        disconnect(_progressConnection);
+    }
+    if (_finishedConnection) {
+        disconnect(_finishedConnection);
+    }
+}
+
 ScriptableResource* ResourceCache::prefetch(const QUrl& url, void* extra) {
     auto result = new ScriptableResource(url);
 
diff --git a/libraries/networking/src/ResourceCache.h b/libraries/networking/src/ResourceCache.h
index 35a0710aa6..997c9be37d 100644
--- a/libraries/networking/src/ResourceCache.h
+++ b/libraries/networking/src/ResourceCache.h
@@ -89,6 +89,8 @@ public:
     ScriptableResource(const QUrl& url);
     virtual ~ScriptableResource() = default;
 
+    Q_INVOKABLE void release();
+
     const QUrl& getUrl() const { return _url; }
     bool isLoaded() const { return _isLoaded; }
     bool isFailed() const { return _isFailed; }
@@ -102,6 +104,8 @@ private slots:
     void finished(bool success);
 
 private:
+    void disconnectHelper();
+
     friend class ResourceCache;
 
     // Holds a ref to the resource to keep it in scope