diff --git a/servicetalk-http-netty/src/main/java/io/servicetalk/http/netty/RetryingHttpRequesterFilter.java b/servicetalk-http-netty/src/main/java/io/servicetalk/http/netty/RetryingHttpRequesterFilter.java
index 1de85c89d3..e8be30c45f 100644
--- a/servicetalk-http-netty/src/main/java/io/servicetalk/http/netty/RetryingHttpRequesterFilter.java
+++ b/servicetalk-http-netty/src/main/java/io/servicetalk/http/netty/RetryingHttpRequesterFilter.java
@@ -242,7 +242,8 @@ Completable applyRetryCallbacks(final Completable completable, final int retryCo
                         // the user.
                         result = result.onErrorMap(backoffError -> ThrowableUtils.addSuppressed(t, backoffError))
                                 // If we get cancelled we also need to drain the message body as there is no guarantee
-                                // we'll ever receive a completion event, error or success.
+                                // we'll ever receive a completion event, error or success. This is okay to do since
+                                // the subscriber has signaled they're no longer interested in the response.
                                 .beforeCancel(() -> drain(response).subscribe())
                                 .concat(drain(response));
                     }