diff --git a/server/consumer.go b/server/consumer.go
index 9af1c5b2b32..67492134394 100644
--- a/server/consumer.go
+++ b/server/consumer.go
@@ -3126,6 +3126,14 @@ func (o *consumer) needAck(sseq uint64, subj string) bool {
 	return needAck
 }
 
+// Used in nextReqFromMsg, since the json.Unmarshal causes the request
+// struct to escape to the heap always. This should reduce GC pressure.
+var jsGetNextPool = sync.Pool{
+	New: func() any {
+		return &JSApiConsumerGetNextRequest{}
+	},
+}
+
 // Helper for the next message requests.
 func nextReqFromMsg(msg []byte) (time.Time, int, int, bool, time.Duration, time.Time, error) {
 	req := bytes.TrimSpace(msg)
@@ -3135,7 +3143,11 @@ func nextReqFromMsg(msg []byte) (time.Time, int, int, bool, time.Duration, time.
 		return time.Time{}, 1, 0, false, 0, time.Time{}, nil
 
 	case req[0] == '{':
-		var cr JSApiConsumerGetNextRequest
+		cr := jsGetNextPool.Get().(*JSApiConsumerGetNextRequest)
+		defer func() {
+			*cr = JSApiConsumerGetNextRequest{}
+			jsGetNextPool.Put(cr)
+		}()
 		if err := json.Unmarshal(req, &cr); err != nil {
 			return time.Time{}, -1, 0, false, 0, time.Time{}, err
 		}
@@ -3535,6 +3547,7 @@ func (o *consumer) processNextMsgRequest(reply string, msg []byte) {
 
 	if err := o.waiting.add(wr); err != nil {
 		sendErr(409, "Exceeded MaxWaiting")
+		wr.recycle()
 		return
 	}
 	o.signalNewMessages()
diff --git a/server/stream.go b/server/stream.go
index 5fca89e3d88..484c7a5bb87 100644
--- a/server/stream.go
+++ b/server/stream.go
@@ -5199,6 +5199,9 @@ func newJSPubMsg(dsubj, subj, reply string, hdr, msg []byte, o *consumer, seq ui
 	if pm != nil {
 		m = pm.(*jsPubMsg)
 		buf = m.buf[:0]
+		if hdr != nil {
+			hdr = append(m.hdr[:0], hdr...)
+		}
 	} else {
 		m = new(jsPubMsg)
 	}
@@ -5227,6 +5230,9 @@ func (pm *jsPubMsg) returnToPool() {
 	if len(pm.buf) > 0 {
 		pm.buf = pm.buf[:0]
 	}
+	if len(pm.hdr) > 0 {
+		pm.hdr = pm.hdr[:0]
+	}
 	jsPubMsgPool.Put(pm)
 }