diff --git a/source/libs/stream/src/streamMeta.c b/source/libs/stream/src/streamMeta.c
index 04d34b0945..68348f462f 100644
--- a/source/libs/stream/src/streamMeta.c
+++ b/source/libs/stream/src/streamMeta.c
@@ -1520,8 +1520,6 @@ int32_t streamMetaStartOneTask(SStreamMeta* pMeta, int64_t streamId, int32_t tas
   if (pTask == NULL) {
     stError("vgId:%d failed to acquire task:0x%x during start tasks", pMeta->vgId, taskId);
     streamMetaUpdateTaskDownstreamStatus(pMeta, streamId, taskId, 0, taosGetTimestampMs(), false);
-
-    streamMetaReleaseTask(pMeta, pTask);
     return TSDB_CODE_STREAM_TASK_IVLD_STATUS;
   }