diff --git a/src/kernel/messages.test.c b/src/kernel/messages.test.c
index e18dd54e8..fc6079dfe 100644
--- a/src/kernel/messages.test.c
+++ b/src/kernel/messages.test.c
@@ -41,11 +41,14 @@ static void test_merge_split(CuTest *tc) {
     message_list *mlist = 0, *append = 0;
     struct mlist **split; // TODO: why is this a double asterisk?
     message_type *mtype = mt_new("custom", NULL);
+    message *msg;
 
     test_cleanup();
     mt_register(mtype);
-    add_message(&mlist, msg_message(mtype->name, ""));
-    add_message(&append, msg_message(mtype->name, ""));
+    add_message(&mlist, msg = msg_message(mtype->name, ""));
+    msg_release(msg);
+    add_message(&append, msg = msg_message(mtype->name, ""));
+    msg_release(msg);
 
     CuAssertPtrEquals(tc, 0, mlist->begin->next);
     CuAssertPtrEquals(tc, &mlist->begin->next, mlist->end);