diff --git a/examples/spmm/spmm.cc b/examples/spmm/spmm.cc
index 7e0232525..bf1fc0a89 100644
--- a/examples/spmm/spmm.cc
+++ b/examples/spmm/spmm.cc
@@ -365,11 +365,13 @@ class SpMM25D {
     // release the first bcast(s)
     auto pbcasts = parallel_bcasts_;
     auto release_k = k_cnt.begin();
+    release_k_ = release_k; // this will be released
     while (pbcasts-- > 0 && (k_cnt.end() != release_k))
     {
-      release_k = std::find_if(release_k, k_cnt.end(), [](std::size_t c){ return c > 0; });
+      release_k_ = release_k;
+      release_k = std::find_if(release_k++, k_cnt.end(), [](std::size_t c){ return c > 0; });
     }
-    constraint->release(*release_k);
+    constraint->release(*release_k_);
 
     TTGUNUSED(bcast_a_);
     TTGUNUSED(bcast_b_);