diff --git a/core/wma/src/wma_dev_if.c b/core/wma/src/wma_dev_if.c
index 101f43b1c835..a7087597a1eb 100644
--- a/core/wma/src/wma_dev_if.c
+++ b/core/wma/src/wma_dev_if.c
@@ -2360,7 +2360,7 @@ void wma_hold_req_timer(void *data)
 	wma = cds_get_context(QDF_MODULE_ID_WMA);
 	if (NULL == wma) {
 		WMA_LOGE(FL("Failed to get wma"));
-		goto free_tgt_req;
+		return;
 	}
 
 	WMA_LOGA(FL("request %d is timed out for vdev_id - %d"),
@@ -2370,7 +2370,11 @@ void wma_hold_req_timer(void *data)
 	if (!msg) {
 		WMA_LOGE(FL("Failed to lookup request message - %d"),
 			 tgt_req->msg_type);
-		goto free_tgt_req;
+		/*
+		 * if find request failed, then firmware rsp should have
+		 * consumed the buffer. Do not free.
+		 */
+		return;
 	}
 
 	if (tgt_req->msg_type == WMA_ADD_STA_REQ) {
@@ -2422,9 +2426,6 @@ void wma_hold_req_timer(void *data)
 				tgt_req->msg_type, tgt_req->type);
 		QDF_BUG(0);
 	}
-free_tgt_req:
-	qdf_mc_timer_destroy(&tgt_req->event_timeout);
-	qdf_mem_free(tgt_req);
 }
 
 /**