diff --git a/pkg/tcpip/stack/packet_buffer.go b/pkg/tcpip/stack/packet_buffer.go
index 8e5293568..4ec1ad5ee 100644
--- a/pkg/tcpip/stack/packet_buffer.go
+++ b/pkg/tcpip/stack/packet_buffer.go
@@ -188,9 +188,7 @@ func NewPacketBuffer(opts PacketBufferOptions) *PacketBuffer {
 // pool.
 func (pk *PacketBuffer) DecRef() {
 	pk.packetBufferRefs.DecRef(func() {
-		if pk.packetBufferRefs.refCount == 0 {
-			pkPool.Put(pk)
-		}
+		pkPool.Put(pk)
 	})
 }