diff --git a/pulsar-client/src/main/java/org/apache/pulsar/client/impl/MessageImpl.java b/pulsar-client/src/main/java/org/apache/pulsar/client/impl/MessageImpl.java
index 3e4759c86f027a..695e849bbc7b70 100644
--- a/pulsar-client/src/main/java/org/apache/pulsar/client/impl/MessageImpl.java
+++ b/pulsar-client/src/main/java/org/apache/pulsar/client/impl/MessageImpl.java
@@ -276,11 +276,16 @@ public static long getEntryTimestamp( ByteBuf headersAndPayloadWithBrokerEntryMe
         if (brokerEntryMetadata != null && brokerEntryMetadata.hasBrokerTimestamp()) {
             return brokerEntryMetadata.getBrokerTimestamp();
         }
-        // otherwise get the publish_time
+        // otherwise get the publish_time,
+        long entryTimestamp;
         MessageImpl<byte[]> msg = (MessageImpl<byte[]>) RECYCLER.get();
-        Commands.parseMessageMetadata(headersAndPayloadWithBrokerEntryMetadata, msg.msgMetadata);
-        long entryTimestamp = msg.getPublishTime();
-        msg.recycle();
+        try {
+            Commands.parseMessageMetadata(headersAndPayloadWithBrokerEntryMetadata, msg.msgMetadata);
+            entryTimestamp  = msg.getPublishTime();
+        } finally {
+            // make sure msg can be recycled
+            msg.recycle();
+        }
         return entryTimestamp;
     }