diff --git a/packages/socket.io-adapter/lib/cluster-adapter.ts b/packages/socket.io-adapter/lib/cluster-adapter.ts
index c53a48b4..64604b99 100644
--- a/packages/socket.io-adapter/lib/cluster-adapter.ts
+++ b/packages/socket.io-adapter/lib/cluster-adapter.ts
@@ -508,7 +508,7 @@ export abstract class ClusterAdapter extends Adapter {
       }, opts.flags!.timeout);
     }
 
-    super.broadcastWithAck(packet, opts, clientCountCallback, ack);
+    return super.broadcastWithAck(packet, opts, clientCountCallback, ack);
   }
 
   override async addSockets(opts: BroadcastOptions, rooms: Room[]) {
diff --git a/packages/socket.io-adapter/lib/in-memory-adapter.ts b/packages/socket.io-adapter/lib/in-memory-adapter.ts
index cf178170..9ba553cf 100644
--- a/packages/socket.io-adapter/lib/in-memory-adapter.ts
+++ b/packages/socket.io-adapter/lib/in-memory-adapter.ts
@@ -229,6 +229,14 @@ export class Adapter extends EventEmitter {
     });
 
     clientCountCallback(clientCount);
+
+    return {
+      cleanup: () => {
+        this.apply(opts, (socket) => {
+          socket.acks.delete(packet.id);
+        });
+      },
+    };
   }
 
   private _encode(packet: unknown, packetOpts: Record<string, unknown>) {
diff --git a/packages/socket.io/lib/broadcast-operator.ts b/packages/socket.io/lib/broadcast-operator.ts
index 6a229dae..10d8a360 100644
--- a/packages/socket.io/lib/broadcast-operator.ts
+++ b/packages/socket.io/lib/broadcast-operator.ts
@@ -232,9 +232,11 @@ export class BroadcastOperator<EmitEvents extends EventsMap, SocketData>
     const ack = data.pop() as (...args: any[]) => void;
     let timedOut = false;
     let responses: any[] = [];
+    let cleanupPendingAcks: (() => void) | undefined;
 
     const timer = setTimeout(() => {
       timedOut = true;
+      cleanupPendingAcks?.();
       ack.apply(this, [
         new Error("operation has timed out"),
         this.flags.expectSingleResponse ? null : responses,
@@ -259,7 +261,7 @@ export class BroadcastOperator<EmitEvents extends EventsMap, SocketData>
       }
     };
 
-    this.adapter.broadcastWithAck(
+    const result = this.adapter.broadcastWithAck(
       packet,
       {
         rooms: this.rooms,
@@ -279,6 +281,10 @@ export class BroadcastOperator<EmitEvents extends EventsMap, SocketData>
       },
     );
 
+    if (result && typeof result.cleanup === "function") {
+      cleanupPendingAcks = result.cleanup;
+    }
+
     this.adapter.serverCount().then((serverCount) => {
       expectedServerCount = serverCount;
       checkCompleteness();
diff --git a/packages/socket.io/test/messaging-many.ts b/packages/socket.io/test/messaging-many.ts
index 0a518150..87407a2f 100644
--- a/packages/socket.io/test/messaging-many.ts
+++ b/packages/socket.io/test/messaging-many.ts
@@ -534,6 +534,11 @@ describe("messaging many", () => {
         // @ts-ignore
         expect(err.responses).to.contain(1, 2);
 
+        for (const [, serverSocket] of io.of("/").sockets) {
+          // @ts-ignore accessing private acks map to verify cleanup
+          expect(serverSocket.acks.size).to.be(0);
+        }
+
         success(done, io, socket1, socket2, socket3);
       }
     });