diff --git a/server/sandbox.go b/server/sandbox.go
index 42dbdb46..2c0d3de0 100644
--- a/server/sandbox.go
+++ b/server/sandbox.go
@@ -300,6 +300,8 @@ func (s *Server) RemovePodSandbox(ctx context.Context, req *pb.RemovePodSandboxR
 		return nil, fmt.Errorf("failed to remove sandbox %s directory: %v", *sbID, err)
 	}
 
+	s.releasePodName(sb.name)
+
 	return &pb.RemovePodSandboxResponse{}, nil
 }