diff --git a/src/core/vdom/create-component.ts b/src/core/vdom/create-component.ts
index 9e48c575230..d3a42eebccb 100644
--- a/src/core/vdom/create-component.ts
+++ b/src/core/vdom/create-component.ts
@@ -62,6 +62,8 @@ const componentVNodeHooks = {
       vnode, // new parent vnode
       options.children // new children
     )
+    // #12187 unset children reference after use to avoid memory leak
+    options.children = undefined
   },
 
   insert(vnode: MountedComponentVNode) {