diff --git a/src/main/java/org/nhindirect/smtpmq/gateway/server/SMTPMessageHandler.java b/src/main/java/org/nhindirect/smtpmq/gateway/server/SMTPMessageHandler.java
index ec986f2..e4862f5 100644
--- a/src/main/java/org/nhindirect/smtpmq/gateway/server/SMTPMessageHandler.java
+++ b/src/main/java/org/nhindirect/smtpmq/gateway/server/SMTPMessageHandler.java
@@ -151,7 +151,8 @@ protected void updateMessageID() throws MessagingException
 		    	messageId = mimeMessage.getMessageID();
 		    	messageSource.forwardSMTPMessage(mailMessage);
 
-		        log.info("successfully sent message with message id {} ({} bytes)", messageId, countingInputStream.getByteCount());
+		    	log.info("successfully sent message with message id {} ({} bytes)", messageId, countingInputStream.getByteCount());
+		    	recipients.clear();
 		    } 
 		    catch (Throwable e) 
 		    {