diff --git a/cpu/esp8266/esp-wifi/esp_wifi_netdev.c b/cpu/esp8266/esp-wifi/esp_wifi_netdev.c
index 6e0519c01e4753e44af10a79e562aa27fab2a236..0f1fca8a256ae1fcf130ed9c766d1eb951c8aa53 100644
--- a/cpu/esp8266/esp-wifi/esp_wifi_netdev.c
+++ b/cpu/esp8266/esp-wifi/esp_wifi_netdev.c
@@ -350,13 +350,9 @@ static int IRAM _send(netdev_t *netdev, const iolist_t *iolist)
         /*
          * The memory of EPS8266 is quite small. Therefore, it may happen on
          * heavy network load that we run into out of memory and we have
-         * to wait until lwIP pbuf has been flushed. For that purpose, we
-         * have to disconnect from AP and slow down sending. The node will
-         * then reconnect to AP automatically.
+         * to wait until lwIP pbuf has been flushed. We slow down sending a bit.
          */
         critical_exit();
-        /* disconnect from AP */
-        wifi_station_disconnect();
         /* wait 20 ms */
         xtimer_usleep(20 * US_PER_MS);