diff --git a/lib/nodes/mqtt.c b/lib/nodes/mqtt.c
index be8e27b87..c21eccc04 100644
--- a/lib/nodes/mqtt.c
+++ b/lib/nodes/mqtt.c
@@ -476,6 +476,7 @@ int mqtt_read(struct node *n, struct sample *smps[], unsigned cnt)
 	pulled = queue_signalled_pull_many(&m->queue, (void **) smpt, cnt);
 
 	sample_copy_many(smps, smpt, pulled);
+	sample_put_many(smpt, pulled);
 
 	return pulled;
 }