diff --git a/smallrye-reactive-messaging-pulsar/src/main/java/io/smallrye/reactive/messaging/pulsar/fault/PulsarNack.java b/smallrye-reactive-messaging-pulsar/src/main/java/io/smallrye/reactive/messaging/pulsar/fault/PulsarNack.java
index 8eff89331..97a017184 100644
--- a/smallrye-reactive-messaging-pulsar/src/main/java/io/smallrye/reactive/messaging/pulsar/fault/PulsarNack.java
+++ b/smallrye-reactive-messaging-pulsar/src/main/java/io/smallrye/reactive/messaging/pulsar/fault/PulsarNack.java
@@ -45,6 +45,7 @@ public Uni<Void> handle(PulsarIncomingMessage<?> message, Throwable reason, Meta
         consumer.negativeAcknowledge(message.getMessageId());
         log.messageFailureNacked(channel, reason.getMessage());
         log.messageFailureFullCause(reason);
+        message.unwrap().release();
         return Uni.createFrom().voidItem()
                 .emitOn(message::runOnMessageContext);
     }