diff --git a/rsocket-core/src/main/java/io/rsocket/util/ByteBufPayload.java b/rsocket-core/src/main/java/io/rsocket/util/ByteBufPayload.java
index a39214dfd..d20396852 100644
--- a/rsocket-core/src/main/java/io/rsocket/util/ByteBufPayload.java
+++ b/rsocket-core/src/main/java/io/rsocket/util/ByteBufPayload.java
@@ -159,6 +159,7 @@ public static Payload create(ByteBuf data) {
 
   public static Payload create(ByteBuf data, @Nullable ByteBuf metadata) {
     ByteBufPayload payload = RECYCLER.get();
+    payload.setRefCnt(1);
     payload.data = data;
     payload.metadata = metadata;
     return payload;