Apparatus, methods, and computer-readable media for facilitating usage of memory of helping UEs during sidelink retransmission are disclosed herein. An example method for wireless communication at a first user equipment (UE) includes receiving, from a wireless device, a first packet and a second packet for sidelink retransmission to at least one second UE, the second packet being received after the first packet. The example method also includes dropping the first packet or the second packet prior to retransmission based on at least one of a packet priority or an indication from the wireless device.