diff --git a/codec-http/src/main/java/io/netty/handler/codec/http/HttpContentEncoder.java b/codec-http/src/main/java/io/netty/handler/codec/http/HttpContentEncoder.java
index 07ed61fc22..fb8ec835ca 100644
--- a/codec-http/src/main/java/io/netty/handler/codec/http/HttpContentEncoder.java
+++ b/codec-http/src/main/java/io/netty/handler/codec/http/HttpContentEncoder.java
@@ -276,6 +276,7 @@ public abstract class HttpContentEncoder extends MessageToMessageCodec<HttpReque
                 break;
             }
             if (!buf.isReadable()) {
+                buf.release();
                 continue;
             }
             out.add(new DefaultHttpContent(buf));