diff --git a/packet_packer.go b/packet_packer.go
index 5b055de7..e707734f 100644
--- a/packet_packer.go
+++ b/packet_packer.go
@@ -589,12 +589,11 @@ func (p *packetPacker) composeNextPacket(maxFrameSize protocol.ByteCount, onlyAc
 		return payload{}
 	}
 
-	pl := payload{streamFrames: make([]ackhandler.StreamFrame, 0, 1)}
-
 	hasData := p.framer.HasData()
 	hasRetransmission := p.retransmissionQueue.HasAppData()
 
 	var hasAck bool
+	var pl payload
 	if ackAllowed {
 		if ack := p.acks.GetAckFrame(protocol.Encryption1RTT, !hasRetransmission && !hasData); ack != nil {
 			pl.ack = ack