diff --git a/src/node_http2.h b/src/node_http2.h
index f054ff9e9d6a26..67af832eff78b7 100644
--- a/src/node_http2.h
+++ b/src/node_http2.h
@@ -1299,6 +1299,7 @@ class ExternalHeader :
     }
 
     if (may_internalize && vec.len < 64) {
+      nghttp2_rcbuf_decref(buf);
       // This is a short header name, so there is a good chance V8 already has
       // it internalized.
       return GetInternalizedString(env, vec);