diff --git a/core/device/iobased/endpoint.go b/core/device/iobased/endpoint.go
index 09678ed..78c4813 100644
--- a/core/device/iobased/endpoint.go
+++ b/core/device/iobased/endpoint.go
@@ -86,6 +86,7 @@ func (e *Endpoint) dispatchLoop() {
 		case header.IPv6Version:
 			e.InjectInbound(header.IPv6ProtocolNumber, pkt)
 		}
+		pkt.DecRef() /* release */
 	}
 }