diff --git a/src/core/osmo_io.c b/src/core/osmo_io.c
index 37127c1..f9d04fd 100644
--- a/src/core/osmo_io.c
+++ b/src/core/osmo_io.c
@@ -102,6 +102,8 @@
 			talloc_free(hdr);
 			return NULL;
 		}
+	} else {
+		talloc_steal(iofd->msgb_alloc.ctx, msg);
 	}
 
 	hdr->action = action;