diff --git a/shard.yml b/shard.yml
index 9f7d025..5e4fa7c 100644
--- a/shard.yml
+++ b/shard.yml
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 name: action-controller
-version: 7.2.1
+version: 7.2.2
 crystal: ">= 1.9.0"
 
 dependencies:
diff --git a/src/action-controller/base.cr b/src/action-controller/base.cr
index 9349088..53fc4df 100644
--- a/src/action-controller/base.cr
+++ b/src/action-controller/base.cr
@@ -135,18 +135,6 @@ abstract class ActionController::Base
     @__render_called__ = false
   end
 
-  # clean up any uploaded files
-  def finalize
-    uploads = @__files__
-    return unless uploads
-
-    uploads.each_value do |files|
-      files.each do |file_upload|
-        file_upload.delete
-      end
-    end
-  end
-
   # the [request context](https://crystal-lang.org/api/latest/HTTP/Server/Context.html)
   def context : HTTP::Server::Context
     @__context__
@@ -591,6 +579,15 @@ abstract class ActionController::Base
             end # END force SSL check
           {% end %}
 
+          # clean up any uploaded files
+          if uploads = instance.try &.@__files__
+            uploads.each_value do |files|
+              files.each do |file_upload|
+                file_upload.delete
+              end
+            end
+          end
+
           # Always return the context
           context
         end