diff --git a/bookkeeper-server/src/main/java/org/apache/bookkeeper/bookie/storage/directentrylogger/DirectWriter.java b/bookkeeper-server/src/main/java/org/apache/bookkeeper/bookie/storage/directentrylogger/DirectWriter.java
index e9ef166c5b8..17466d1e404 100644
--- a/bookkeeper-server/src/main/java/org/apache/bookkeeper/bookie/storage/directentrylogger/DirectWriter.java
+++ b/bookkeeper-server/src/main/java/org/apache/bookkeeper/bookie/storage/directentrylogger/DirectWriter.java
@@ -113,12 +113,13 @@ public void writeAt(long offset, ByteBuf buf) throws IOException {
         checkArgument(Buffer.isAligned(buf.readableBytes()),
                       "Buffer must write multiple of alignment bytes (%d), %d is not",
                       Buffer.ALIGNMENT, buf.readableBytes());
-        Buffer tmpBuffer = bufferPool.acquire();
+
         int bytesToWrite = buf.readableBytes();
         if (bytesToWrite <= 0) {
             return;
         }
 
+        Buffer tmpBuffer = bufferPool.acquire();
         tmpBuffer.reset();
         tmpBuffer.writeByteBuf(buf);
         Future<?> f = writeExecutor.submit(() -> {