diff --git a/doc/src/sgml/libpq.sgml b/doc/src/sgml/libpq.sgml
index 06d909e8049..82a440531b5 100644
--- a/doc/src/sgml/libpq.sgml
+++ b/doc/src/sgml/libpq.sgml
@@ -5284,7 +5284,7 @@ typedef struct pgNotify
   <para>
    <function>PQnotifies</function> does not actually read data from the
    server; it just returns messages previously absorbed by another
-   <application>libpq</application> function.  In prior releases of
+   <application>libpq</application> function.  In ancient releases of
    <application>libpq</application>, the only way to ensure timely receipt
    of <command>NOTIFY</command> messages was to constantly submit commands, even
    empty ones, and then check <function>PQnotifies</function> after each
@@ -8711,6 +8711,7 @@ main(int argc, char **argv)
                     notify->relname, notify->be_pid);
             PQfreemem(notify);
             nnotifies++;
+            PQconsumeInput(conn);
         }
     }
 
diff --git a/src/bin/psql/common.c b/src/bin/psql/common.c
index b56995925bd..62c2928e6bb 100644
--- a/src/bin/psql/common.c
+++ b/src/bin/psql/common.c
@@ -836,7 +836,8 @@ PrintNotifications(void)
 {
 	PGnotify   *notify;
 
-	while ((notify = PQnotifies(pset.db)))
+	PQconsumeInput(pset.db);
+	while ((notify = PQnotifies(pset.db)) != NULL)
 	{
 		/* for backward compatibility, only show payload if nonempty */
 		if (notify->extra[0])
@@ -847,6 +848,7 @@ PrintNotifications(void)
 					notify->relname, notify->be_pid);
 		fflush(pset.queryFout);
 		PQfreemem(notify);
+		PQconsumeInput(pset.db);
 	}
 }
 
diff --git a/src/interfaces/ecpg/ecpglib/execute.c b/src/interfaces/ecpg/ecpglib/execute.c
index ff244498da4..42640ba9be1 100644
--- a/src/interfaces/ecpg/ecpglib/execute.c
+++ b/src/interfaces/ecpg/ecpglib/execute.c
@@ -1722,12 +1722,13 @@ ecpg_process_output(struct statement *stmt, bool clear_result)
 	}
 
 	/* check for asynchronous returns */
-	notify = PQnotifies(stmt->connection->connection);
-	if (notify)
+	PQconsumeInput(stmt->connection->connection);
+	while ((notify = PQnotifies(stmt->connection->connection)) != NULL)
 	{
 		ecpg_log("ecpg_process_output on line %d: asynchronous notification of \"%s\" from backend PID %d received\n",
 				 stmt->lineno, notify->relname, notify->be_pid);
 		PQfreemem(notify);
+		PQconsumeInput(stmt->connection->connection);
 	}
 
 	return status;
diff --git a/src/interfaces/libpq/fe-exec.c b/src/interfaces/libpq/fe-exec.c
index e8b28d9ccf9..6aed8c87c7a 100644
--- a/src/interfaces/libpq/fe-exec.c
+++ b/src/interfaces/libpq/fe-exec.c
@@ -2265,6 +2265,9 @@ sendFailed:
  * no unhandled async notification from the backend
  *
  * the CALLER is responsible for FREE'ing the structure returned
+ *
+ * Note that this function does not read any new data from the socket;
+ * so usually, caller should call PQconsumeInput() first.
  */
 PGnotify *
 PQnotifies(PGconn *conn)
diff --git a/src/test/examples/testlibpq2.c b/src/test/examples/testlibpq2.c
index 62ecd68b55e..6cdf8c8631b 100644
--- a/src/test/examples/testlibpq2.c
+++ b/src/test/examples/testlibpq2.c
@@ -140,6 +140,7 @@ main(int argc, char **argv)
 					notify->relname, notify->be_pid);
 			PQfreemem(notify);
 			nnotifies++;
+			PQconsumeInput(conn);
 		}
 	}