diff --git a/connectors/netty-connector/src/main/java/org/glassfish/jersey/netty/connector/internal/NettyInputStream.java b/connectors/netty-connector/src/main/java/org/glassfish/jersey/netty/connector/internal/NettyInputStream.java
index 2dbb6d6130..52f795ab3a 100644
--- a/connectors/netty-connector/src/main/java/org/glassfish/jersey/netty/connector/internal/NettyInputStream.java
+++ b/connectors/netty-connector/src/main/java/org/glassfish/jersey/netty/connector/internal/NettyInputStream.java
@@ -94,7 +94,7 @@ public synchronized void close() {
         cleanup(true);
     }
 
-    private void releaseByteBuf() {
+    private synchronized void releaseByteBuf() {
         if (current != null) {
             current.release();
         }