diff --git a/src/core/net/sntp_client.cpp b/src/core/net/sntp_client.cpp
index e06f5a771..91230e42e 100644
--- a/src/core/net/sntp_client.cpp
+++ b/src/core/net/sntp_client.cpp
@@ -90,7 +90,9 @@ Error Client::Query(const otSntpQuery *aQuery, otSntpResponseHandler aHandler, v
     // Originate timestamp is used only as a unique token.
     header.SetTransmitTimestampSeconds(TimerMilli::GetNow().GetValue() / 1000 + kTimeAt1970);
 
-    VerifyOrExit((message = NewMessage(header)) != nullptr, error = kErrorNoBufs);
+    message = mSocket.NewMessage();
+    VerifyOrExit(message != nullptr, error = kErrorNoBufs);
+    SuccessOrExit(error = message->Append(header));
 
     messageInfo = AsCoreTypePtr(aQuery->mMessageInfo);
 
@@ -109,10 +111,7 @@ exit:
 
     if (error != kErrorNone)
     {
-        if (message)
-        {
-            message->Free();
-        }
+        FreeMessage(message);
 
         if (messageCopy)
         {
@@ -123,18 +122,6 @@ exit:
     return error;
 }
 
-Message *Client::NewMessage(const Header &aHeader)
-{
-    Message *message = nullptr;
-
-    VerifyOrExit((message = mSocket.NewMessage(sizeof(aHeader))) != nullptr);
-    IgnoreError(message->Prepend(aHeader));
-    message->SetOffset(0);
-
-exit:
-    return message;
-}
-
 Message *Client::CopyAndEnqueueMessage(const Message &aMessage, const QueryMetadata &aQueryMetadata)
 {
     Error    error       = kErrorNone;
diff --git a/src/core/net/sntp_client.hpp b/src/core/net/sntp_client.hpp
index 3e6184000..071eda602 100644
--- a/src/core/net/sntp_client.hpp
+++ b/src/core/net/sntp_client.hpp
@@ -247,7 +247,6 @@ private:
         uint8_t                   mRetransmissionCount; // Number of retransmissions
     };
 
-    Message *NewMessage(const Header &aHeader);
     Message *CopyAndEnqueueMessage(const Message &aMessage, const QueryMetadata &aQueryMetadata);
     void     DequeueMessage(Message &aMessage);
     Error    SendMessage(Message &aMessage, const Ip6::MessageInfo &aMessageInfo);