diff --git a/gossip/src/cluster_info.rs b/gossip/src/cluster_info.rs
index e7f405f06..67f713676 100644
--- a/gossip/src/cluster_info.rs
+++ b/gossip/src/cluster_info.rs
@@ -889,10 +889,7 @@ impl ClusterInfo {
                 CrdsData::LowestSlot(0, LowestSlot::new(self_pubkey, min, now)),
                 &self.keypair(),
             );
-            self.local_message_pending_push_queue
-                .lock()
-                .unwrap()
-                .push(entry);
+            self.push_message(entry);
         }
     }
 
@@ -973,7 +970,7 @@ impl ClusterInfo {
         TimedGuard::new(self.gossip.crds.read().unwrap(), label, counter)
     }
 
-    pub fn push_message(&self, message: CrdsValue) {
+    fn push_message(&self, message: CrdsValue) {
         self.local_message_pending_push_queue
             .lock()
             .unwrap()
@@ -1515,25 +1512,23 @@ impl ClusterInfo {
         (pings, pulls.collect())
     }
 
-    fn drain_push_queue(&self) -> Vec<CrdsValue> {
-        let mut push_queue = self.local_message_pending_push_queue.lock().unwrap();
-        std::mem::take(&mut *push_queue)
-    }
-    // Used in tests
     pub fn flush_push_queue(&self) {
-        let pending_push_messages = self.drain_push_queue();
-        let mut gossip_crds = self.gossip.crds.write().unwrap();
-        let now = timestamp();
-        for entry in pending_push_messages {
-            let _ = gossip_crds.insert(entry, now, GossipRoute::LocalMessage);
+        let entries: Vec<CrdsValue> =
+            std::mem::take(&mut *self.local_message_pending_push_queue.lock().unwrap());
+        if !entries.is_empty() {
+            let mut gossip_crds = self.gossip.crds.write().unwrap();
+            let now = timestamp();
+            for entry in entries {
+                let _ = gossip_crds.insert(entry, now, GossipRoute::LocalMessage);
+            }
         }
     }
     fn new_push_requests(&self, stakes: &HashMap<Pubkey, u64>) -> Vec<(SocketAddr, Protocol)> {
         let self_id = self.id();
         let (mut push_messages, num_entries, num_nodes) = {
             let _st = ScopedTimer::from(&self.stats.new_push_requests);
-            self.gossip
-                .new_push_messages(&self_id, self.drain_push_queue(), timestamp(), stakes)
+            self.flush_push_queue();
+            self.gossip.new_push_messages(&self_id, timestamp(), stakes)
         };
         self.stats
             .push_fanout_num_entries
@@ -3596,12 +3591,11 @@ mod tests {
             &SocketAddrSpace::Unspecified,
         );
         //check that all types of gossip messages are signed correctly
-        let (push_messages, _, _) = cluster_info.gossip.new_push_messages(
-            &cluster_info.id(),
-            cluster_info.drain_push_queue(),
-            timestamp(),
-            &stakes,
-        );
+        cluster_info.flush_push_queue();
+        let (push_messages, _, _) =
+            cluster_info
+                .gossip
+                .new_push_messages(&cluster_info.id(), timestamp(), &stakes);
         // there should be some pushes ready
         assert!(!push_messages.is_empty());
         push_messages
diff --git a/gossip/src/crds_gossip.rs b/gossip/src/crds_gossip.rs
index 015deed1d..977db716e 100644
--- a/gossip/src/crds_gossip.rs
+++ b/gossip/src/crds_gossip.rs
@@ -72,7 +72,6 @@ impl CrdsGossip {
     pub fn new_push_messages(
         &self,
         pubkey: &Pubkey, // This node.
-        pending_push_messages: Vec<CrdsValue>,
         now: u64,
         stakes: &HashMap<Pubkey, u64>,
     ) -> (
@@ -80,12 +79,6 @@ impl CrdsGossip {
         usize, // number of values
         usize, // number of push messages
     ) {
-        {
-            let mut crds = self.crds.write().unwrap();
-            for entry in pending_push_messages {
-                let _ = crds.insert(entry, now, GossipRoute::LocalMessage);
-            }
-        }
         self.push.new_push_messages(pubkey, &self.crds, now, stakes)
     }
 
diff --git a/gossip/tests/crds_gossip.rs b/gossip/tests/crds_gossip.rs
index 74415ec3c..ff9e36ba2 100644
--- a/gossip/tests/crds_gossip.rs
+++ b/gossip/tests/crds_gossip.rs
@@ -351,9 +351,7 @@ fn network_run_push(
                 node.gossip.purge(&node_pubkey, thread_pool, now, &timeouts);
                 (
                     node_pubkey,
-                    node.gossip
-                        .new_push_messages(&node_pubkey, vec![], now, &stakes)
-                        .0,
+                    node.gossip.new_push_messages(&node_pubkey, now, &stakes).0,
                 )
             })
             .collect();