diff --git a/Adafruit_MQTT.cpp b/Adafruit_MQTT.cpp
index 9d5128e..eaaff81 100644
--- a/Adafruit_MQTT.cpp
+++ b/Adafruit_MQTT.cpp
@@ -222,6 +222,32 @@ int8_t Adafruit_MQTT::connect(const char *user, const char *pass) {
   return connect();
 }
 
+void Adafruit_MQTT::processSubscriptionPacket(Adafruit_MQTT_Subscribe *sub) {
+  if (sub->callback_uint32t != NULL) {
+    // execute callback in integer mode
+    uint32_t data = 0;
+    data = atoi((char *)sub->lastread);
+    sub->callback_uint32t(data);
+  } else if (sub->callback_double != NULL) {
+    // execute callback in doublefloat mode
+    double data = 0;
+    data = atof((char *)sub->lastread);
+    sub->callback_double(data);
+  } else if (sub->callback_buffer != NULL) {
+    // execute callback in buffer mode
+    sub->callback_buffer((char *)sub->lastread, sub->datalen);
+  } else if (sub->callback_io != NULL) {
+    // execute callback in io mode
+    ((sub->io_mqtt)->*(sub->callback_io))((char *)sub->lastread, sub->datalen);
+  } else {
+    DEBUG_PRINTLN(
+        "ERROR: Subscription packet did not have an associated callback");
+    return;
+  }
+  // mark subscription message as "read""
+  sub->new_message = false;
+}
+
 uint16_t Adafruit_MQTT::processPacketsUntil(uint8_t *buffer,
                                             uint8_t waitforpackettype,
                                             uint16_t timeout) {
@@ -239,7 +265,9 @@ uint16_t Adafruit_MQTT::processPacketsUntil(uint8_t *buffer,
       return len;
     } else {
       if (packetType == MQTT_CTRL_PUBLISH) {
-        handleSubscriptionPacket(len);
+        Adafruit_MQTT_Subscribe *sub = handleSubscriptionPacket(len);
+        if (sub)
+          processSubscriptionPacket(sub);
       } else {
         ERROR_PRINTLN(F("Dropped a packet"));
       }
@@ -478,27 +506,8 @@ void Adafruit_MQTT::processPackets(int16_t timeout) {
 
   while (elapsed < (uint32_t)timeout) {
     Adafruit_MQTT_Subscribe *sub = readSubscription(timeout - elapsed);
-    if (sub) {
-      if (sub->callback_uint32t != NULL) {
-        // huh lets do the callback in integer mode
-        uint32_t data = 0;
-        data = atoi((char *)sub->lastread);
-        sub->callback_uint32t(data);
-      } else if (sub->callback_double != NULL) {
-        // huh lets do the callback in doublefloat mode
-        double data = 0;
-        data = atof((char *)sub->lastread);
-        sub->callback_double(data);
-      } else if (sub->callback_buffer != NULL) {
-        // huh lets do the callback in buffer mode
-        sub->callback_buffer((char *)sub->lastread, sub->datalen);
-      } else if (sub->callback_io != NULL) {
-        // huh lets do the callback in io mode
-        ((sub->io_mqtt)->*(sub->callback_io))((char *)sub->lastread,
-                                              sub->datalen);
-      }
-    }
-
+    if (sub)
+      processSubscriptionPacket(sub);
     // keep track over elapsed time
     endtime = millis();
     if (endtime < starttime) {
diff --git a/Adafruit_MQTT.h b/Adafruit_MQTT.h
index 7249aa1..00657b4 100644
--- a/Adafruit_MQTT.h
+++ b/Adafruit_MQTT.h
@@ -34,7 +34,7 @@
 #define ADAFRUIT_MQTT_VERSION_PATCH 0
 
 // Uncomment/comment to turn on/off debug output messages.
-//#define MQTT_DEBUG
+// #define MQTT_DEBUG
 // Uncomment/comment to turn on/off error output messages.
 #define MQTT_ERROR
 
@@ -209,10 +209,12 @@ public:
   // messages!
   Adafruit_MQTT_Subscribe *readSubscription(int16_t timeout = 0);
 
-  // Handle any data coming in for subscriptions and fires them off to the
-  // appropriate callback
+  // Handle any data coming in for subscriptions
   Adafruit_MQTT_Subscribe *handleSubscriptionPacket(uint16_t len);
 
+  // Execute a subscription packet's associated callback and mark as "read"
+  void processSubscriptionPacket(Adafruit_MQTT_Subscribe *sub);
+
   void processPackets(int16_t timeout);
 
   // Ping the server to ensure the connection is still alive.
diff --git a/library.properties b/library.properties
index 8baa280..f2aca1f 100644
--- a/library.properties
+++ b/library.properties
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 name=Adafruit MQTT Library
-version=2.4.3
+version=2.5.0
 author=Adafruit
 maintainer=Adafruit <info@adafruit.com>
 sentence=MQTT library that supports the FONA, ESP8266, ESP32, Yun, and generic Arduino Client hardware.