diff --git a/src/main/java/io/vertx/core/json/jackson/HybridJacksonPool.java b/src/main/java/io/vertx/core/json/jackson/HybridJacksonPool.java
index de17c07594b..48fdee4c45d 100644
--- a/src/main/java/io/vertx/core/json/jackson/HybridJacksonPool.java
+++ b/src/main/java/io/vertx/core/json/jackson/HybridJacksonPool.java
@@ -142,8 +142,8 @@ public void releasePooled(BufferRecycler recycler) {
       Node next = topStacks.get(vThreadBufferRecycler.slot);
       while (true) {
         newHead.level = next == null ? 1 : next.level + 1;
+        newHead.next = next;
         if (topStacks.compareAndSet(vThreadBufferRecycler.slot, next, newHead)) {
-          newHead.next = next;
           return;
         } else {
           next = topStacks.get(vThreadBufferRecycler.slot);