diff --git a/src/main/java/com/aws/greengrass/mqttclient/MqttClient.java b/src/main/java/com/aws/greengrass/mqttclient/MqttClient.java
index 7495873829..8a733e0d31 100644
--- a/src/main/java/com/aws/greengrass/mqttclient/MqttClient.java
+++ b/src/main/java/com/aws/greengrass/mqttclient/MqttClient.java
@@ -623,6 +623,7 @@ protected CompletableFuture<Integer> publishSingleSpoolerMessage(AwsIotMqttClien
                                 logger.atError().log("Failed to publish the message via Spooler"
                                                 + " after retried {} times and will drop the message",
                                         maxPublishRetryCount, throwable);
+                                spool.removeMessageById(finalId);
                             }
 
                         }
diff --git a/src/test/java/com/aws/greengrass/mqttclient/MqttClientTest.java b/src/test/java/com/aws/greengrass/mqttclient/MqttClientTest.java
index 025446d415..af5c7949a5 100644
--- a/src/test/java/com/aws/greengrass/mqttclient/MqttClientTest.java
+++ b/src/test/java/com/aws/greengrass/mqttclient/MqttClientTest.java
@@ -719,7 +719,7 @@ void GIVEN_publish_request_unsuccessfully_WHEN_spool_single_message_THEN_not_ret
         client.publishSingleSpoolerMessage(awsIotMqttClient);
 
         verify(awsIotMqttClient).publish(any(), any(), anyBoolean());
-        verify(spool, never()).removeMessageById(anyLong());
+        verify(spool, times(1)).removeMessageById(anyLong());
         verify(spool, never()).addId(anyLong());
     }