diff --git a/opal/dss/dss_unpack.c b/opal/dss/dss_unpack.c
index eb1a8f9869..99e62d097f 100644
--- a/opal/dss/dss_unpack.c
+++ b/opal/dss/dss_unpack.c
@@ -936,6 +936,7 @@ int opal_dss_unpack_node_stat(opal_buffer_t *buffer, void *dest,
             OPAL_ERROR_LOG(ret);
             return ret;
         }
+        OBJ_RELEASE(ptr[i]);
     }
 
     return OPAL_SUCCESS;