diff --git a/sys/net/gnrc/network_layer/icmpv6/gnrc_icmpv6.c b/sys/net/gnrc/network_layer/icmpv6/gnrc_icmpv6.c
index b65c329d7e..e3bfca9aa9 100644
--- a/sys/net/gnrc/network_layer/icmpv6/gnrc_icmpv6.c
+++ b/sys/net/gnrc/network_layer/icmpv6/gnrc_icmpv6.c
@@ -78,7 +78,7 @@ void gnrc_icmpv6_demux(gnrc_netif_t *netif, gnrc_pktsnip_t *pkt)
 
     if (_calc_csum(icmpv6, ipv6, pkt)) {
         DEBUG("icmpv6: wrong checksum.\n");
-        /* don't release: IPv6 does this */
+        gnrc_pktbuf_release(pkt);
         return;
     }