diff --git a/src/vt/messaging/pending_send.cc b/src/vt/messaging/pending_send.cc
index 7c879a5d8b..8cc9b2e552 100644
--- a/src/vt/messaging/pending_send.cc
+++ b/src/vt/messaging/pending_send.cc
@@ -113,6 +113,7 @@ void PendingSend::release() {
   } else if ( epoch_action_ ) {
     epoch_action_();
     epoch_action_ = {};
+    consumeMsg();
   }
   if (epoch_produced_ != no_epoch) {
     theMsg()->popEpoch(epoch_produced_);