diff --git a/cocos/2d/CCSprite.cpp b/cocos/2d/CCSprite.cpp
index a98e65105d..caa06dbe50 100644
--- a/cocos/2d/CCSprite.cpp
+++ b/cocos/2d/CCSprite.cpp
@@ -264,6 +264,7 @@ Sprite::Sprite(void)
 : _batchNode(nullptr)
 , _shouldBeHidden(false)
 , _texture(nullptr)
+, _spriteFrame(nullptr)
 , _insideBounds(true)
 {
 #if CC_SPRITE_DEBUG_DRAW
@@ -274,6 +275,7 @@ Sprite::Sprite(void)
 
 Sprite::~Sprite(void)
 {
+    CC_SAFE_RELEASE(_spriteFrame);
     CC_SAFE_RELEASE(_texture);
 }
 
@@ -936,6 +938,14 @@ void Sprite::setSpriteFrame(const std::string &spriteFrameName)
 
 void Sprite::setSpriteFrame(SpriteFrame *spriteFrame)
 {
+    // retain the sprite frame
+    // do not removed by SpriteFrameCache::removeUnusedSpriteFrames
+    if (_spriteFrame != spriteFrame)
+    {
+        CC_SAFE_RELEASE(_spriteFrame);
+        _spriteFrame = spriteFrame;
+        spriteFrame->retain();
+    }
     _unflippedOffsetPositionFromCenter = spriteFrame->getOffset();
 
     Texture2D *texture = spriteFrame->getTexture();
diff --git a/cocos/2d/CCSprite.h b/cocos/2d/CCSprite.h
index 226eb4d55b..29c152c3bf 100644
--- a/cocos/2d/CCSprite.h
+++ b/cocos/2d/CCSprite.h
@@ -538,6 +538,7 @@ protected:
     //
     BlendFunc        _blendFunc;            /// It's required for TextureProtocol inheritance
     Texture2D*       _texture;              /// Texture2D object that is used to render the sprite
+    SpriteFrame*     _spriteFrame;
     QuadCommand      _quadCommand;          /// quad command
 #if CC_SPRITE_DEBUG_DRAW
     DrawNode *_debugDrawNode;