diff --git a/common/src/main/java/io/netty/util/Recycler.java b/common/src/main/java/io/netty/util/Recycler.java
index 8e5f87dfe1..732a391082 100644
--- a/common/src/main/java/io/netty/util/Recycler.java
+++ b/common/src/main/java/io/netty/util/Recycler.java
@@ -384,6 +384,7 @@ public abstract class Recycler<T> {
                     return false;
                 }
                 this.head.link = head = head.next;
+                this.head.reclaimSpace(LINK_CAPACITY);
             }
 
             final int srcStart = head.readIndex;