diff --git a/apps/emqx/src/emqx_channel.erl b/apps/emqx/src/emqx_channel.erl
index d167f3924..966b4fda8 100644
--- a/apps/emqx/src/emqx_channel.erl
+++ b/apps/emqx/src/emqx_channel.erl
@@ -637,7 +637,7 @@ do_publish(PacketId, Msg = #message{qos = ?QOS_2},
                 packet_id => PacketId
             }),
             ok = emqx_metrics:inc('packets.publish.dropped'),
-            handle_out(pubrec, {PacketId, RC}, Channel)
+            handle_out(disconnect, RC, Channel)
     end.
 
 ensure_quota(_, Channel = #channel{quota = undefined}) ->
diff --git a/apps/emqx/test/emqx_channel_SUITE.erl b/apps/emqx/test/emqx_channel_SUITE.erl
index 45b00ff29..1077cc870 100644
--- a/apps/emqx/test/emqx_channel_SUITE.erl
+++ b/apps/emqx/test/emqx_channel_SUITE.erl
@@ -370,7 +370,8 @@ t_handle_in_qos2_publish_with_error_return(_) ->
     {ok, ?PUBREC_PACKET(2, ?RC_NO_MATCHING_SUBSCRIBERS), Channel1} =
         emqx_channel:handle_in(Publish2, Channel),
     Publish3 = ?PUBLISH_PACKET(?QOS_2, <<"topic">>, 3, <<"payload">>),
-    {ok, ?PUBREC_PACKET(3, ?RC_RECEIVE_MAXIMUM_EXCEEDED), Channel1} =
+    {ok, [{outgoing, ?DISCONNECT_PACKET(?RC_RECEIVE_MAXIMUM_EXCEEDED)},
+          {close, receive_maximum_exceeded}], Channel1} =
         emqx_channel:handle_in(Publish3, Channel1).
 
 t_handle_in_puback_ok(_) ->