diff --git a/core/benches/banking_stage.rs b/core/benches/banking_stage.rs
index 5a8b67b83c..bbccac5dc5 100644
--- a/core/benches/banking_stage.rs
+++ b/core/benches/banking_stage.rs
@@ -74,11 +74,8 @@ fn bench_consume_buffered(bencher: &mut Bencher) {
         // This tests the performance of buffering packets.
         // If the packet buffers are copied, performance will be poor.
         bencher.iter(move || {
-            let _ignored = BankingStage::consume_buffered_packets(
-                &my_pubkey,
-                &poh_recorder,
-                packets.as_slice(),
-            );
+            let _ignored =
+                BankingStage::consume_buffered_packets(&my_pubkey, &poh_recorder, &mut packets);
         });
 
         exit.store(true, Ordering::Relaxed);
diff --git a/core/src/banking_stage.rs b/core/src/banking_stage.rs
index e412882db0..e17be807e6 100644
--- a/core/src/banking_stage.rs
+++ b/core/src/banking_stage.rs
@@ -146,24 +146,20 @@ impl BankingStage {
     pub fn consume_buffered_packets(
         my_pubkey: &Pubkey,
         poh_recorder: &Arc<Mutex<PohRecorder>>,
-        buffered_packets: &[PacketsAndOffsets],
+        buffered_packets: &mut Vec<PacketsAndOffsets>,
     ) -> Result<UnprocessedPackets> {
         let mut unprocessed_packets = vec![];
         let mut rebuffered_packets = 0;
         let mut new_tx_count = 0;
         let buffered_len = buffered_packets.len();
-        let mut buffered_packets_iter = buffered_packets.iter();
+        let mut buffered_packets_iter = buffered_packets.drain(..);
 
         let proc_start = Instant::now();
         while let Some((msgs, unprocessed_indexes)) = buffered_packets_iter.next() {
             let bank = poh_recorder.lock().unwrap().bank();
             if bank.is_none() {
                 rebuffered_packets += unprocessed_indexes.len();
-                Self::push_unprocessed(
-                    &mut unprocessed_packets,
-                    msgs.to_owned(),
-                    unprocessed_indexes.to_owned(),
-                );
+                Self::push_unprocessed(&mut unprocessed_packets, msgs, unprocessed_indexes);
                 continue;
             }
             let bank = bank.unwrap();
@@ -180,11 +176,7 @@ impl BankingStage {
 
             // Collect any unprocessed transactions in this batch for forwarding
             rebuffered_packets += new_unprocessed_indexes.len();
-            Self::push_unprocessed(
-                &mut unprocessed_packets,
-                msgs.to_owned(),
-                new_unprocessed_indexes,
-            );
+            Self::push_unprocessed(&mut unprocessed_packets, msgs, new_unprocessed_indexes);
 
             if processed < verified_txs_len {
                 let next_leader = poh_recorder.lock().unwrap().next_slot_leader();
@@ -197,11 +189,7 @@ impl BankingStage {
                         my_pubkey,
                         next_leader,
                     );
-                    Self::push_unprocessed(
-                        &mut unprocessed_packets,
-                        msgs.to_owned(),
-                        unprocessed_indexes,
-                    );
+                    Self::push_unprocessed(&mut unprocessed_packets, msgs, unprocessed_indexes);
                 }
             }
         }
@@ -257,9 +245,9 @@ impl BankingStage {
         socket: &std::net::UdpSocket,
         poh_recorder: &Arc<Mutex<PohRecorder>>,
         cluster_info: &Arc<RwLock<ClusterInfo>>,
-        buffered_packets: &[PacketsAndOffsets],
+        buffered_packets: &mut Vec<PacketsAndOffsets>,
         enable_forwarding: bool,
-    ) -> Result<UnprocessedPackets> {
+    ) -> Result<()> {
         let rcluster_info = cluster_info.read().unwrap();
 
         let (decision, next_leader) = {
@@ -278,28 +266,35 @@ impl BankingStage {
 
         match decision {
             BufferedPacketsDecision::Consume => {
-                Self::consume_buffered_packets(&rcluster_info.id(), poh_recorder, buffered_packets)
+                let mut unprocessed = Self::consume_buffered_packets(
+                    &rcluster_info.id(),
+                    poh_recorder,
+                    buffered_packets,
+                )?;
+                buffered_packets.append(&mut unprocessed);
+                Ok(())
             }
             BufferedPacketsDecision::Forward => {
                 if enable_forwarding {
-                    next_leader.map_or(Ok(buffered_packets.to_vec()), |leader_pubkey| {
-                        rcluster_info.lookup(&leader_pubkey).map_or(
-                            Ok(buffered_packets.to_vec()),
-                            |leader| {
+                    next_leader.map_or(Ok(()), |leader_pubkey| {
+                        rcluster_info
+                            .lookup(&leader_pubkey)
+                            .map_or(Ok(()), |leader| {
                                 let _ = Self::forward_buffered_packets(
                                     &socket,
                                     &leader.tpu_via_blobs,
                                     &buffered_packets,
                                 );
-                                Ok(vec![])
-                            },
-                        )
+                                buffered_packets.clear();
+                                Ok(())
+                            })
                     })
                 } else {
-                    Ok(vec![])
+                    buffered_packets.clear();
+                    Ok(())
                 }
             }
-            _ => Ok(buffered_packets.to_vec()),
+            _ => Ok(()),
         }
     }
 
@@ -319,10 +314,9 @@ impl BankingStage {
                     &socket,
                     poh_recorder,
                     cluster_info,
-                    &buffered_packets,
+                    &mut buffered_packets,
                     enable_forwarding,
                 )
-                .map(|packets| buffered_packets = packets)
                 .unwrap_or_else(|_| buffered_packets.clear());
             }
 
@@ -345,7 +339,7 @@ impl BankingStage {
                 id,
             ) {
                 Err(Error::RecvTimeoutError(RecvTimeoutError::Timeout)) => (),
-                Ok(unprocessed_packets) => {
+                Ok(mut unprocessed_packets) => {
                     if unprocessed_packets.is_empty() {
                         continue;
                     }
@@ -354,7 +348,7 @@ impl BankingStage {
                         .map(|(_, unprocessed)| unprocessed.len())
                         .sum();
                     inc_new_counter_info!("banking_stage-buffered_packets", num);
-                    buffered_packets.extend_from_slice(&unprocessed_packets);
+                    buffered_packets.append(&mut unprocessed_packets);
                 }
                 Err(err) => {
                     debug!("solana-banking-stage-tx: exit due to {:?}", err);