diff --git a/src/rpc/src/rpcMain.c b/src/rpc/src/rpcMain.c
index e432e47e368f030d8ee3e68cea8f5c6055915b69..0d5b80e8f3e56ac680b2ab2605740a2fc7d0a9b1 100644
--- a/src/rpc/src/rpcMain.c
+++ b/src/rpc/src/rpcMain.c
@@ -602,10 +602,13 @@ static void rpcReleaseConn(SRpcConn *pConn) {
     taosHashRemove(pRpc->hash, hashstr, size);
     rpcFreeMsg(pConn->pRspMsg); // it may have a response msg saved, but not request msg
     pConn->pRspMsg = NULL;
-    if (pConn->pReqMsg) rpcFreeCont(pConn->pReqMsg);
+  
+    // if server has ever reported progress, free content
+    if (pConn->pReqMsg) rpcFreeCont(pConn->pReqMsg);  // do not use rpcFreeMsg
   } else {
+    // if there is an outgoing message, free it
     if (pConn->outType && pConn->pReqMsg) 
-      rpcFreeCont(pConn->pReqMsg);
+      rpcFreeMsg(pConn->pReqMsg);
   }
 
   // memset could not be used, since lockeBy can not be reset