diff --git a/src/mesh/ReliableRouter.cpp b/src/mesh/ReliableRouter.cpp
index a5fa3e585..3e2850bcf 100644
--- a/src/mesh/ReliableRouter.cpp
+++ b/src/mesh/ReliableRouter.cpp
@@ -176,9 +176,9 @@ bool ReliableRouter::stopRetransmission(GlobalPacketId key)
         if (old->numRetransmissions < NUM_RETRANSMISSIONS - 1) {
             // remove the 'original' (identified by originator and packet->id) from the txqueue and free it
             cancelSending(getFrom(p), p->id);
-            // now free the pooled copy for retransmission too
-            packetPool.release(p);
         }
+        // now free the pooled copy for retransmission too
+        packetPool.release(p);
         auto numErased = pending.erase(key);
         assert(numErased == 1);
         return true;