diff --git a/pkg/messagepool/messagepool.go b/pkg/messagepool/messagepool.go
index e6ff9990f2..ca143643ef 100644
--- a/pkg/messagepool/messagepool.go
+++ b/pkg/messagepool/messagepool.go
@@ -566,7 +566,7 @@ func (mp *MessagePool) DeleteByAdress(address address.Address) error {
 	defer mp.lk.Unlock()
 
 	if mp.pending != nil {
-		mp.pending[address] = nil
+		delete(mp.pending, address)
 	}
 	return nil
 }