diff --git a/lib/src/common/src/channels.dart b/lib/src/common/src/channels.dart
index b95a411c4..980cf13d4 100644
--- a/lib/src/common/src/channels.dart
+++ b/lib/src/common/src/channels.dart
@@ -40,9 +40,10 @@ abstract class Channels<ChannelType> extends Iterable<ChannelType> {
   /// Releases a [RestChannel] or [RealtimeChannel] object with a specified
   /// [name], deleting it.
   ///
-  /// It also removes any listeners associated with the channel. To release a
-  /// channel, the [ChannelState] must be `INITIALIZED`, `DETACHED`, or
-  /// `FAILED`.
+  /// It also removes any listeners associated with the channel. A realtime
+  /// channel should only be released when it is in the `INITIALIZED`,
+  /// `DETACHED`, or `FAILED` state; releasing a realtime channel in any other
+  /// state is deprecated and will throw an error in the next major version.
   void release(String name) {
     _channels.remove(name);
   }
diff --git a/lib/src/platform/src/realtime/realtime_channels.dart b/lib/src/platform/src/realtime/realtime_channels.dart
index caa31103b..093fe6686 100644
--- a/lib/src/platform/src/realtime/realtime_channels.dart
+++ b/lib/src/platform/src/realtime/realtime_channels.dart
@@ -19,9 +19,10 @@ class RealtimeChannels extends Channels<RealtimeChannel> {
 
   /// Releases a [RealtimeChannel] object with a specified [name], deleting it.
   ///
-  /// It also removes any listeners associated with the channel. To release a
-  /// channel, the [ChannelState] must be `INITIALIZED`, `DETACHED`, or
-  /// `FAILED`.
+  /// It also removes any listeners associated with the channel. A realtime
+  /// channel should only be released when it is in the `INITIALIZED`,
+  /// `DETACHED`, or `FAILED` state; releasing a realtime channel in any other
+  /// state is deprecated and will throw an error in the next major version.
   @override
   void release(String name) {
     realtime.invoke<void>(PlatformMethod.releaseRealtimeChannel, {