diff --git a/dspace-jspui/src/main/java/org/dspace/app/webui/servlet/BitstreamServlet.java b/dspace-jspui/src/main/java/org/dspace/app/webui/servlet/BitstreamServlet.java
index ea2e506c1d..09b19b1131 100644
--- a/dspace-jspui/src/main/java/org/dspace/app/webui/servlet/BitstreamServlet.java
+++ b/dspace-jspui/src/main/java/org/dspace/app/webui/servlet/BitstreamServlet.java
@@ -218,6 +218,9 @@ public class BitstreamServlet extends DSpaceServlet
 			UIUtil.setBitstreamDisposition(bitstream.getName(), request, response);
 		}
 
+        //DO NOT REMOVE IT - WE NEED TO FREE DB CONNECTION TO AVOID CONNECTION POOL EXHAUSTION FOR BIG FILES AND SLOW DOWNLOADS
+        context.complete();
+
         Utils.bufferedCopy(is, response.getOutputStream());
         is.close();
         response.getOutputStream().flush();