diff --git a/tpot2/evolvers/steady_state_evolver.py b/tpot2/evolvers/steady_state_evolver.py
index 9a9f5708..f077b05f 100644
--- a/tpot2/evolvers/steady_state_evolver.py
+++ b/tpot2/evolvers/steady_state_evolver.py
@@ -444,6 +444,7 @@ def optimize(self):
                             print("Cancelled future (likely memory related)")
                             scores = [np.nan for _ in range(len(self.objective_names))]
                             eval_error = "INVALID"
+                            client.run(gc.collect)
                         else: #if the future is done and did not throw an error, get the scores
                             try:
                                 scores = completed_future.result()
@@ -466,13 +467,14 @@ def optimize(self):
                                 print("cancelld ", completed_future.cancelled())
                                 scores = [np.nan for _ in range(len(self.objective_names))]
                                 eval_error = "INVALID"
+                        completed_future.release() #release the future
                     else: #if future is not done
 
                         if self.max_eval_time_mins is not None:
                             #check if the future has been running for too long, cancel the future
                             if time.time() - submitted_futures[completed_future]["time"] > self.max_eval_time_mins*1.25*60:
                                 completed_future.cancel()
-
+                                completed_future.release() #release the future
                                 if self.verbose >= 4:
                                     print(f'WARNING AN INDIVIDUAL TIMED OUT (Fallback): \n {submitted_futures[completed_future]} \n')
 
@@ -506,6 +508,8 @@ def optimize(self):
                 self.population.remove_invalid_from_population(column_names="Eval Error", invalid_value="INVALID")
                 self.population.remove_invalid_from_population(column_names="Eval Error", invalid_value="TIMEOUT")
 
+                #I am not entirely sure if this is necessary. I believe that calling release on the futures should be enough to free up memory. If memory issues persist, this may be a good place to start.
+                #client.run(gc.collect) #run garbage collection to free up memory
 
                 ###############################
                 # Step 2: Early Stopping
@@ -717,6 +721,10 @@ def optimize(self):
         #done, cleanup futures
         for future in submitted_futures.keys():
             future.cancel()
+            future.release() #release the future
+
+        #I am not entirely sure if this is necessary. I believe that calling release on the futures should be enough to free up memory. If memory issues persist, this may be a good place to start.
+        #client.run(gc.collect) #run garbage collection to free up memory
 
         #checkpoint
         if self.population_file is not None:
diff --git a/tpot2/utils/eval_utils.py b/tpot2/utils/eval_utils.py
index 7f93cef4..bc308164 100644
--- a/tpot2/utils/eval_utils.py
+++ b/tpot2/utils/eval_utils.py
@@ -49,6 +49,7 @@
 from dask.distributed import progress
 import distributed
 import func_timeout
+import gc
 
 def process_scores(scores, n):
     '''
@@ -163,6 +164,7 @@ def parallel_eval_objective_list(individual_list,
                     print("Cancelled future (likely memory related)")
                     scores = [np.nan for _ in range(n_expected_columns)]
                     eval_error = "INVALID"
+                    client.run(gc.collect)
                 else: #if the future is done and did not throw an error, get the scores
                     try:
                         scores = completed_future.result()
@@ -186,13 +188,15 @@ def parallel_eval_objective_list(individual_list,
                         print("cancelld ", completed_future.cancelled())
                         scores = [np.nan for _ in range(n_expected_columns)]
                         eval_error = "INVALID"
+            
+                completed_future.release() #release the future
             else: #if future is not done
 
                 # check if the future has been running for too long, cancel the future
                 # we multiply max_eval_time_mins by 1.25 since the objective function in the future should be able to cancel itself. This is a backup in case it doesn't.
                 if max_eval_time_mins is not None and time.time() - submitted_futures[completed_future]["time"] > max_eval_time_mins*1.25*60:
                     completed_future.cancel()
-                    
+                    completed_future.release()
                     if verbose >= 4:
                         print(f'WARNING AN INDIVIDUAL TIMED OUT (Fallback): \n {submitted_futures[completed_future]} \n')
                     
@@ -200,6 +204,7 @@ def parallel_eval_objective_list(individual_list,
                     eval_error = "TIMEOUT"
                 elif global_timeout_triggered:
                     completed_future.cancel()
+                    completed_future.release()
                     
                     if verbose >= 4:
                         print(f'WARNING AN INDIVIDUAL TIMED OUT (max_time_mins): \n {submitted_futures[completed_future]} \n')
@@ -222,6 +227,10 @@ def parallel_eval_objective_list(individual_list,
             #update submitted futures
             submitted_futures.pop(completed_future)
         
+
+        #I am not entirely sure if this is necessary. I believe that calling release on the futures should be enough to free up memory. If memory issues persist, this may be a good place to start.
+        #client.run(gc.collect) #run garbage collection to free up memory
+
         #break if timeout
         if global_timeout_triggered:
             while len(individual_stack) > 0:
@@ -243,10 +252,10 @@ def parallel_eval_objective_list(individual_list,
             
             submitted_inds.add(individual.unique_id())
 
+    #I am not entirely sure if this is necessary. I believe that calling release on the futures should be enough to free up memory. If memory issues persist, this may be a good place to start.
+    #client.run(gc.collect) #run garbage collection to free up memory
 
     #collect remaining futures
-
-
     final_scores = [scores_dict[individual]["scores"] for individual in individual_list]
     final_start_times = [scores_dict[individual]["start_time"] for individual in individual_list]
     final_end_times = [scores_dict[individual]["end_time"] for individual in individual_list]