diff --git a/bookkeeper-server/src/main/java/org/apache/bookkeeper/client/PendingWriteLacOp.java b/bookkeeper-server/src/main/java/org/apache/bookkeeper/client/PendingWriteLacOp.java
index f9a5397daf0..ed3748850e3 100644
--- a/bookkeeper-server/src/main/java/org/apache/bookkeeper/client/PendingWriteLacOp.java
+++ b/bookkeeper-server/src/main/java/org/apache/bookkeeper/client/PendingWriteLacOp.java
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@
  */
 package org.apache.bookkeeper.client;
 
+import io.netty.util.ReferenceCountUtil;
 import java.util.BitSet;
 import java.util.List;
 import org.apache.bookkeeper.client.AsyncCallback.AddLacCallback;
@@ -112,6 +113,8 @@ public void writeLacComplete(int rc, long ledgerId, BookieId addr, Object ctx) {
 
         if (receivedResponseSet.isEmpty()){
             completed = true;
+            ReferenceCountUtil.release(toSend);
+            toSend = null;
             cb.addLacComplete(lastSeenError, lh, ctx);
         }
     }