diff --git a/src/inet/common/MessageDispatcher.cc b/src/inet/common/MessageDispatcher.cc
index 10440836e7c..cdc25e19f47 100644
--- a/src/inet/common/MessageDispatcher.cc
+++ b/src/inet/common/MessageDispatcher.cc
@@ -110,7 +110,11 @@ void MessageDispatcher::arrived(cMessage *message, cGate *inGate, const SendOpti
     }
     else
         outGate = handleMessage(check_and_cast<Message *>(message), inGate);
-    outGate->deliver(message, options, time);
+    bool keepMsg = outGate->deliver(message, options, time);
+    if (!keepMsg) {
+        take(message);
+        delete message;
+    }
 #ifdef INET_WITH_QUEUEING
 #endif // #ifdef INET_WITH_QUEUEING
 }