diff --git a/router/java/src/net/i2p/router/transport/ntcp/EventPumper.java b/router/java/src/net/i2p/router/transport/ntcp/EventPumper.java
index 80e8ae426..2c2fcef81 100644
--- a/router/java/src/net/i2p/router/transport/ntcp/EventPumper.java
+++ b/router/java/src/net/i2p/router/transport/ntcp/EventPumper.java
@@ -471,6 +471,7 @@ class EventPumper implements Runnable {
      *  High-frequency path in thread.
      */
     public static void releaseBuf(ByteBuffer buf) {
+        buf.clear();
         _bufferCache.release(buf);
     }