diff --git a/src/client/src/tscLocal.c b/src/client/src/tscLocal.c
index e49f4e33ae..9e65094e16 100644
--- a/src/client/src/tscLocal.c
+++ b/src/client/src/tscLocal.c
@@ -860,10 +860,10 @@ static int32_t tscProcessServStatus(SSqlObj *pSql) {
 
   if (pHb != NULL) {
     pSql->res.code = checkForOnlineNode(pHb);
+    taosReleaseRef(tscObjRef, pObj->hbrid);
   }
 
   if (pSql->res.code == TSDB_CODE_RPC_NETWORK_UNAVAIL) {
-    taosReleaseRef(tscObjRef, pObj->hbrid);
     return pSql->res.code;
   }