diff --git a/codec-dns/src/main/java/io/netty/handler/codec/dns/AbstractDnsMessage.java b/codec-dns/src/main/java/io/netty/handler/codec/dns/AbstractDnsMessage.java
index 40b5aa8f53..31232cff47 100644
--- a/codec-dns/src/main/java/io/netty/handler/codec/dns/AbstractDnsMessage.java
+++ b/codec-dns/src/main/java/io/netty/handler/codec/dns/AbstractDnsMessage.java
@@ -375,6 +375,11 @@ public abstract class AbstractDnsMessage extends AbstractReferenceCounted implem
     @Override
     protected void deallocate() {
         clear();
+
+        final ResourceLeak leak = this.leak;
+        if (leak != null) {
+            leak.close();
+        }
     }
 
     @Override