diff --git a/pkg/util/pool/bucketed_pool.go b/pkg/util/pool/bucketed_pool.go
index d0be7127bfd..6c10d884e44 100644
--- a/pkg/util/pool/bucketed_pool.go
+++ b/pkg/util/pool/bucketed_pool.go
@@ -47,7 +47,7 @@ func NewBucketedPool[T ~[]E, E any](minSize, maxSize int, factor float64, makeFu
 	return p
 }
 
-// Get returns a new slice that fits the given size.
+// Get returns a new slice with capacity greater than or equal to size.
 func (p *BucketedPool[T, E]) Get(size int) T {
 	for i, bktSize := range p.sizes {
 		if size > bktSize {
@@ -63,8 +63,9 @@ func (p *BucketedPool[T, E]) Get(size int) T {
 }
 
 // Put adds a slice to the right bucket in the pool.
+// If the slice does not belong to any bucket in the pool, it is ignored.
 func (p *BucketedPool[T, E]) Put(s T) {
-	if cap(s) == 0 {
+	if cap(s) < p.sizes[0] {
 		return
 	}
 
diff --git a/pkg/util/pool/bucketed_pool_test.go b/pkg/util/pool/bucketed_pool_test.go
index 79d7f007a0d..abafd1c089b 100644
--- a/pkg/util/pool/bucketed_pool_test.go
+++ b/pkg/util/pool/bucketed_pool_test.go
@@ -54,3 +54,10 @@ func TestBucketedPool_PutEmptySlice(t *testing.T) {
 	s := pool.Get(1)
 	require.GreaterOrEqual(t, cap(s), 1)
 }
+
+func TestBucketedPool_PutSliceSmallerThanMinimum(t *testing.T) {
+	pool := NewBucketedPool(3, 1000, 10, makeFunc)
+	pool.Put([]int{1, 2})
+	s := pool.Get(3)
+	require.GreaterOrEqual(t, cap(s), 3)
+}