diff --git a/doc/internals/buffer-api.txt b/doc/internals/buffer-api.txt
index 13881f7..abb5e9f 100644
--- a/doc/internals/buffer-api.txt
+++ b/doc/internals/buffer-api.txt
@@ -568,10 +568,10 @@
                     |                  | even if some memory is available
 --------------------+------------------+---------------------------------------
 __b_drop            | buffer *buf      | releases <buf> which must be allocated
-                    | ret: void        |
+                    | ret: void        | and marks it empty
 --------------------+------------------+---------------------------------------
 b_drop              | buffer *buf      | releases <buf> only if it is allocated
-                    | ret: void        |
+                    | ret: void        | and marks it empty
 --------------------+------------------+---------------------------------------
 b_free              | buffer *buf      | releases <buf> only if it is allocated
                     | ret: void        | and marks it empty
diff --git a/include/common/buffer.h b/include/common/buffer.h
index 3d6c97c..34a3e95 100644
--- a/include/common/buffer.h
+++ b/include/common/buffer.h
@@ -109,13 +109,22 @@
 	return buf;
 }
 
-/* Releases buffer <buf> (no check of emptiness) */
+/* Releases buffer <buf> (no check of emptiness). The buffer's head is marked
+ * empty.
+ */
 static inline void __b_drop(struct buffer *buf)
 {
-	pool_free(pool_head_buffer, buf->area);
+	char *area = buf->area;
+
+	/* let's first clear the area to save an occasional "show sess all"
+	 * glancing over our shoulder from getting a dangling pointer.
+	 */
+	*buf = BUF_NULL;
+	__ha_barrier_store();
+	pool_free(pool_head_buffer, area);
 }
 
-/* Releases buffer <buf> if allocated. */
+/* Releases buffer <buf> if allocated, and marks it empty. */
 static inline void b_drop(struct buffer *buf)
 {
 	if (buf->size)
@@ -126,7 +135,6 @@
 static inline void b_free(struct buffer *buf)
 {
 	b_drop(buf);
-	*buf = BUF_NULL;
 }
 
 /* Ensures that <buf> is allocated. If an allocation is needed, it ensures that