diff --git a/src/core/thread/mesh_forwarder.cpp b/src/core/thread/mesh_forwarder.cpp
index 6eeee7260..7c7ef31ef 100644
--- a/src/core/thread/mesh_forwarder.cpp
+++ b/src/core/thread/mesh_forwarder.cpp
@@ -211,6 +211,7 @@ void MeshForwarder::ClearChildIndirectMessages(Child &aChild)
         }
     }
 
+    aChild.SetIndirectMessage(NULL);
     mSourceMatchController.ResetMessageCount(aChild);
 
 exit: