diff --git a/src/xprt_quic.c b/src/xprt_quic.c
index 1950f75..869debb 100644
--- a/src/xprt_quic.c
+++ b/src/xprt_quic.c
@@ -3253,21 +3253,12 @@
 			}
 			qc->path->in_flight += pkt->in_flight_len;
 			pkt->pktns->tx.in_flight += pkt->in_flight_len;
-			next_pkt = pkt->next;
-			TRACE_DATA("sent pkt", QUIC_EV_CONN_SPPKTS, qc, pkt);
-			if (pkt->in_flight_len) {
-				/* Ack-eliciting packets or packets with a PADDING frame */
-				quic_tx_packet_refinc(pkt);
-				eb64_insert(&pkt->pktns->tx.pkts, &pkt->pn_node);
+			if (pkt->in_flight_len)
 				qc_set_timer(qc);
-			}
-			else {
-				/* Note that we can safely free this packet: There is no
-				 * ack-eliciting frame attached to it. This may be an ACK
-				 * or CONNECTION_CLOSE only packet for instance.
-				 */
-				pool_free(pool_head_quic_tx_packet, pkt);
-			}
+			TRACE_DATA("sent pkt", QUIC_EV_CONN_SPPKTS, qc, pkt);
+			next_pkt = pkt->next;
+			quic_tx_packet_refinc(pkt);
+			eb64_insert(&pkt->pktns->tx.pkts, &pkt->pn_node);
 		}
 	}