diff --git a/artemis-server/src/main/java/org/apache/activemq/artemis/core/server/impl/QueueImpl.java b/artemis-server/src/main/java/org/apache/activemq/artemis/core/server/impl/QueueImpl.java
index 58f31ea8890..b9adf338915 100644
--- a/artemis-server/src/main/java/org/apache/activemq/artemis/core/server/impl/QueueImpl.java
+++ b/artemis-server/src/main/java/org/apache/activemq/artemis/core/server/impl/QueueImpl.java
@@ -2741,6 +2741,7 @@ private void expire(final Transaction tx, final MessageReference ref) throws Exc
 
          if (bindingList.getBindings().isEmpty()) {
             ActiveMQServerLogger.LOGGER.errorExpiringReferencesNoBindings(expiryAddress);
+            acknowledge(tx, ref, AckReason.EXPIRED);
          } else {
             move(expiryAddress, tx, ref, true, true);
          }
@@ -2751,7 +2752,7 @@ private void expire(final Transaction tx, final MessageReference ref) throws Exc
             ActiveMQServerLogger.LOGGER.errorExpiringReferencesNoQueue(name);
          }
 
-         acknowledge(tx, ref);
+         acknowledge(tx, ref, AckReason.EXPIRED);
       }
    }