diff --git a/core/jvm/src/main/scala/cats/effect/unsafe/WorkStealingQueue.scala b/core/jvm/src/main/scala/cats/effect/unsafe/WorkStealingQueue.scala
index 3edb561c1e..c5bfb2671f 100644
--- a/core/jvm/src/main/scala/cats/effect/unsafe/WorkStealingQueue.scala
+++ b/core/jvm/src/main/scala/cats/effect/unsafe/WorkStealingQueue.scala
@@ -305,6 +305,7 @@ private final class WorkStealingQueue {
     // fiber has already been written by `internalStealInto` but the
     // tail has still not been published.
     val ret = dst.buffer(retIdx)
+    dst.buffer(retIdx) = null
 
     if (n == 0) {
       // No need for arithmetic and volatile updates. We are immediately