diff --git a/google-cloud-storage/src/main/java/com/google/cloud/storage/spi/v1/HttpStorageRpc.java b/google-cloud-storage/src/main/java/com/google/cloud/storage/spi/v1/HttpStorageRpc.java
index ca11f96673..20650a11d0 100644
--- a/google-cloud-storage/src/main/java/com/google/cloud/storage/spi/v1/HttpStorageRpc.java
+++ b/google-cloud-storage/src/main/java/com/google/cloud/storage/spi/v1/HttpStorageRpc.java
@@ -1156,7 +1156,9 @@ public String open(StorageObject object, Map<Option, ?> options) {
       if (response.getStatusCode() != 200) {
         throw buildStorageException(response.getStatusCode(), response.getStatusMessage());
       }
-      return response.getHeaders().getLocation();
+      String location = response.getHeaders().getLocation();
+      response.disconnect();
+      return location;
     } catch (IOException ex) {
       span.setStatus(Status.UNKNOWN.withDescription(ex.getMessage()));
       throw translate(ex);
@@ -1190,7 +1192,9 @@ public String open(String signedURL) {
       if (response.getStatusCode() != 201) {
         throw buildStorageException(response.getStatusCode(), response.getStatusMessage());
       }
-      return response.getHeaders().getLocation();
+      String location = response.getHeaders().getLocation();
+      response.disconnect();
+      return location;
     } catch (IOException ex) {
       span.setStatus(Status.UNKNOWN.withDescription(ex.getMessage()));
       throw translate(ex);