diff --git a/src/modules/Telemetry/EnvironmentTelemetry.cpp b/src/modules/Telemetry/EnvironmentTelemetry.cpp
index ae4f9e648..d54bc6162 100644
--- a/src/modules/Telemetry/EnvironmentTelemetry.cpp
+++ b/src/modules/Telemetry/EnvironmentTelemetry.cpp
@@ -193,6 +193,10 @@ bool EnvironmentTelemetryModule::handleReceivedProtobuf(const meshtastic_MeshPac
                  t->variant.environment_metrics.gas_resistance, t->variant.environment_metrics.relative_humidity,
                  t->variant.environment_metrics.temperature, t->variant.environment_metrics.voltage);
 
+        // release previous packet before occupying a new spot
+        if (lastMeasurementPacket != nullptr)
+            packetPool.release(lastMeasurementPacket);
+
         lastMeasurementPacket = packetPool.allocCopy(mp);
     }
 
@@ -244,6 +248,10 @@ bool EnvironmentTelemetryModule::sendTelemetry(NodeNum dest, bool phoneOnly)
     p->decoded.want_response = false;
     p->priority = meshtastic_MeshPacket_Priority_MIN;
 
+    // release previous packet before occupying a new spot
+    if (lastMeasurementPacket != nullptr)
+        packetPool.release(lastMeasurementPacket);
+
     lastMeasurementPacket = packetPool.allocCopy(*p);
     if (phoneOnly) {
         LOG_INFO("Sending packet to phone\n");
diff --git a/src/modules/Telemetry/EnvironmentTelemetry.h b/src/modules/Telemetry/EnvironmentTelemetry.h
index 69ef29edb..3340f8751 100644
--- a/src/modules/Telemetry/EnvironmentTelemetry.h
+++ b/src/modules/Telemetry/EnvironmentTelemetry.h
@@ -36,7 +36,7 @@ class EnvironmentTelemetryModule : private concurrency::OSThread, public Protobu
   private:
     float CelsiusToFahrenheit(float c);
     bool firstTime = 1;
-    const meshtastic_MeshPacket *lastMeasurementPacket;
+    meshtastic_MeshPacket *lastMeasurementPacket;
     uint32_t sendToPhoneIntervalMs = SECONDS_IN_MINUTE * 1000; // Send to phone every minute
     uint32_t lastSentToMesh = 0;
     uint32_t sensor_read_error_count = 0;