diff --git a/nvflare/apis/utils/reliable_message.py b/nvflare/apis/utils/reliable_message.py
index e880a6c23b..c046d459bc 100644
--- a/nvflare/apis/utils/reliable_message.py
+++ b/nvflare/apis/utils/reliable_message.py
@@ -164,7 +164,10 @@ def _try_reply(self, fl_ctx: FLContext):
         if rc == ReturnCode.OK:
             # reply sent successfully!
             self.reply_time = time.time()
-            ReliableMessage.info(fl_ctx, f"sent reply successfully in {time_spent} secs")
+            ReliableMessage.debug(fl_ctx, f"sent reply successfully in {time_spent} secs")
+
+            # release the receiver kept by the ReliableMessage!
+            ReliableMessage.release_request_receiver(self, fl_ctx)
         else:
             ReliableMessage.error(
                 fl_ctx, f"failed to send reply in {time_spent} secs: {rc=}; will wait for requester to query"
@@ -279,7 +282,7 @@ def _receive_request(cls, topic: str, request: Shareable, fl_ctx: FLContext):
         elif op == OP_QUERY:
             receiver = cls._req_receivers.get(tx_id)
             if not receiver:
-                cls.error(fl_ctx, f"received query but the request ({rm_topic=}) is not received!")
+                cls.error(fl_ctx, f"received query but the request ({rm_topic=}) is not received or already done!")
                 return _status_reply(STATUS_NOT_RECEIVED)  # meaning the request wasn't received
             else:
                 return receiver.process(request, fl_ctx)
@@ -301,6 +304,22 @@ def _receive_reply(cls, topic: str, request: Shareable, fl_ctx: FLContext):
             receiver.process(request)
         return make_reply(ReturnCode.OK)
 
+    @classmethod
+    def release_request_receiver(cls, receiver: _RequestReceiver, fl_ctx: FLContext):
+        """Release the specified _RequestReceiver from the receiver table.
+        This is to be called after the received request is finished.
+
+        Args:
+            receiver: the _RequestReceiver to be released
+            fl_ctx: the FL Context
+
+        Returns: None
+
+        """
+        with cls._tx_lock:
+            cls._req_receivers.pop(receiver.tx_id, None)
+            cls.debug(fl_ctx, f"released request receiver of TX {receiver.tx_id}")
+
     @classmethod
     def enable(cls, fl_ctx: FLContext):
         """Enable ReliableMessage. This method can be called multiple times, but only the 1st call has effect.
@@ -345,7 +364,7 @@ def _monitor_req_receivers(cls):
                 now = time.time()
                 for tx_id, receiver in cls._req_receivers.items():
                     assert isinstance(receiver, _RequestReceiver)
-                    if receiver.rcv_time and now - receiver.rcv_time > 4 * receiver.tx_timeout:
+                    if receiver.rcv_time and now - receiver.rcv_time > receiver.tx_timeout:
                         cls._logger.info(f"detected expired request receiver {tx_id}")
                         expired_receivers.append(tx_id)