diff --git a/pcsx2/DEV9/Sessions/TCP_Session/TCP_Session.cpp b/pcsx2/DEV9/Sessions/TCP_Session/TCP_Session.cpp
index 0e85def082752..21a08d85fbd7e 100644
--- a/pcsx2/DEV9/Sessions/TCP_Session/TCP_Session.cpp
+++ b/pcsx2/DEV9/Sessions/TCP_Session/TCP_Session.cpp
@@ -18,17 +18,17 @@ using namespace PacketReader::IP::TCP;
 
 namespace Sessions
 {
-	void TCP_Session::PushRecvBuff(std::unique_ptr<TCP_Packet> tcp)
+	void TCP_Session::PushRecvBuff(ReceivedPayload tcp)
 	{
 		_recvBuff.Enqueue(std::move(tcp));
 	}
-	std::unique_ptr<TCP_Packet> TCP_Session::PopRecvBuff()
+	std::optional<ReceivedPayload> TCP_Session::PopRecvBuff()
 	{
-		std::unique_ptr<TCP_Packet> ret;
+		ReceivedPayload ret;
 		if (_recvBuff.Dequeue(&ret))
 			return ret;
 		else
-			return nullptr;
+			return std::nullopt;
 	}
 
 	void TCP_Session::IncrementMyNumber(u32 amount)
@@ -159,7 +159,7 @@ namespace Sessions
 		// Clear out _recvBuff
 		while (!_recvBuff.IsQueueEmpty())
 		{
-			std::unique_ptr<TCP_Packet> retPay;
+			ReceivedPayload retPay;
 			if (!_recvBuff.Dequeue(&retPay))
 			{
 				using namespace std::chrono_literals;
diff --git a/pcsx2/DEV9/Sessions/TCP_Session/TCP_Session.h b/pcsx2/DEV9/Sessions/TCP_Session/TCP_Session.h
index d374a2ac7d9ef..b928b851dd782 100644
--- a/pcsx2/DEV9/Sessions/TCP_Session/TCP_Session.h
+++ b/pcsx2/DEV9/Sessions/TCP_Session/TCP_Session.h
@@ -42,7 +42,7 @@ namespace Sessions
 			Bad
 		};
 
-		SimpleQueue<std::unique_ptr<PacketReader::IP::TCP::TCP_Packet>> _recvBuff;
+		SimpleQueue<ReceivedPayload> _recvBuff;
 
 #ifdef _WIN32
 		SOCKET client = INVALID_SOCKET;
@@ -85,8 +85,8 @@ namespace Sessions
 
 	private:
 		// Async functions
-		void PushRecvBuff(std::unique_ptr<PacketReader::IP::TCP::TCP_Packet> tcp);
-		std::unique_ptr<PacketReader::IP::TCP::TCP_Packet> PopRecvBuff();
+		void PushRecvBuff(ReceivedPayload tcp);
+		std::optional<ReceivedPayload> PopRecvBuff();
 
 		void IncrementMyNumber(u32 amount);
 		void UpdateReceivedAckNumber(u32 ack);
@@ -104,7 +104,7 @@ namespace Sessions
 		bool ValidateEmptyPacket(PacketReader::IP::TCP::TCP_Packet* tcp, bool ignoreOld = true);
 
 		// PS2 sent SYN
-		std::unique_ptr<PacketReader::IP::TCP::TCP_Packet> ConnectTCPComplete(bool success);
+		std::optional<ReceivedPayload> ConnectTCPComplete(bool success);
 		bool SendConnect(PacketReader::IP::TCP::TCP_Packet* tcp);
 		bool SendConnected(PacketReader::IP::TCP::TCP_Packet* tcp);
 
@@ -120,7 +120,7 @@ namespace Sessions
 		 * S4: PS2 then Sends ACK
 		 */
 		bool CloseByPS2Stage1_2(PacketReader::IP::TCP::TCP_Packet* tcp);
-		std::unique_ptr<PacketReader::IP::TCP::TCP_Packet> CloseByPS2Stage3();
+		ReceivedPayload CloseByPS2Stage3();
 		bool CloseByPS2Stage4(PacketReader::IP::TCP::TCP_Packet* tcp);
 
 		/*
@@ -132,7 +132,7 @@ namespace Sessions
 		 * Closing_ClosedByRemoteThenPS2_WaitingForAck
 		 * we then check if S3 has been completed
 		 */
-		std::unique_ptr<PacketReader::IP::TCP::TCP_Packet> CloseByRemoteStage1();
+		ReceivedPayload CloseByRemoteStage1();
 		bool CloseByRemoteStage2_ButAfter4(PacketReader::IP::TCP::TCP_Packet* tcp);
 		bool CloseByRemoteStage3_4(PacketReader::IP::TCP::TCP_Packet* tcp);
 
diff --git a/pcsx2/DEV9/Sessions/TCP_Session/TCP_Session_In.cpp b/pcsx2/DEV9/Sessions/TCP_Session/TCP_Session_In.cpp
index cbf01ca8720b4..241edb4d6bbc2 100644
--- a/pcsx2/DEV9/Sessions/TCP_Session/TCP_Session_In.cpp
+++ b/pcsx2/DEV9/Sessions/TCP_Session/TCP_Session_In.cpp
@@ -22,9 +22,9 @@ namespace Sessions
 {
 	std::optional<ReceivedPayload> TCP_Session::Recv()
 	{
-		std::unique_ptr<TCP_Packet> ret = PopRecvBuff();
-		if (ret != nullptr)
-			return ReceivedPayload{destIP, std::move(ret)};
+		std::optional<ReceivedPayload> ret = PopRecvBuff();
+		if (ret.has_value())
+			return ret;
 
 		switch (state)
 		{
@@ -43,9 +43,9 @@ namespace Sessions
 				select(client + 1, nullptr, &writeSet, &exceptSet, &nowait);
 
 				if (FD_ISSET(client, &writeSet))
-					return ReceivedPayload{destIP, ConnectTCPComplete(true)};
+					return ConnectTCPComplete(true);
 				if (FD_ISSET(client, &exceptSet))
-					return ReceivedPayload{destIP, ConnectTCPComplete(false)};
+					return ConnectTCPComplete(false);
 
 				return std::nullopt;
 			}
@@ -153,9 +153,9 @@ namespace Sessions
 					switch (state)
 					{
 						case TCP_State::Connected:
-							return ReceivedPayload{destIP, CloseByRemoteStage1()};
+							return CloseByRemoteStage1();
 						case TCP_State::Closing_ClosedByPS2:
-							return ReceivedPayload{destIP, CloseByPS2Stage3()};
+							return CloseByPS2Stage3();
 						default:
 							CloseByRemoteRST();
 							Console.Error("DEV9: TCP: Remote close occured with invalid TCP state");
@@ -183,7 +183,7 @@ namespace Sessions
 		return std::nullopt;
 	}
 
-	std::unique_ptr<TCP_Packet> TCP_Session::ConnectTCPComplete(bool success)
+	std::optional<ReceivedPayload> TCP_Session::ConnectTCPComplete(bool success)
 	{
 		if (success)
 		{
@@ -217,7 +217,7 @@ namespace Sessions
 
 				ret->options.push_back(new TCPopTS(timestampSeconds, lastRecivedTimeStamp));
 			}
-			return ret;
+			return ReceivedPayload{destIP, std::move(ret)};
 		}
 		else
 		{
@@ -232,15 +232,15 @@ namespace Sessions
 				Console.Error("DEV9: TCP: Unkown TCP connection error (getsockopt error: %d)", errno);
 #endif
 			else
-				Console.Error("DEV9: TCP: Send error: %d", error);
+				Console.Error("DEV9: TCP: Connect error: %d", error);
 
 			state = TCP_State::CloseCompleted;
 			RaiseEventConnectionClosed();
-			return nullptr;
+			return std::nullopt;
 		}
 	}
 
-	std::unique_ptr<TCP_Packet> TCP_Session::CloseByPS2Stage3()
+	ReceivedPayload TCP_Session::CloseByPS2Stage3()
 	{
 		//Console.WriteLn("DEV9: TCP: Remote has closed connection after PS2");
 
@@ -254,10 +254,10 @@ namespace Sessions
 		//DevCon.WriteLn("myNumberACKed reset");
 
 		state = TCP_State::Closing_ClosedByPS2ThenRemote_WaitingForAck;
-		return ret;
+		return ReceivedPayload{destIP, std::move(ret)};
 	}
 
-	std::unique_ptr<TCP_Packet> TCP_Session::CloseByRemoteStage1()
+	ReceivedPayload TCP_Session::CloseByRemoteStage1()
 	{
 		//Console.WriteLn("DEV9: TCP: Remote has closed connection");
 
@@ -271,6 +271,6 @@ namespace Sessions
 		//DevCon.WriteLn("myNumberACKed reset");
 
 		state = TCP_State::Closing_ClosedByRemote;
-		return ret;
+		return ReceivedPayload{destIP, std::move(ret)};
 	}
 } // namespace Sessions
diff --git a/pcsx2/DEV9/Sessions/TCP_Session/TCP_Session_Out.cpp b/pcsx2/DEV9/Sessions/TCP_Session/TCP_Session_Out.cpp
index 4769de408b004..b84faa33d2f83 100644
--- a/pcsx2/DEV9/Sessions/TCP_Session/TCP_Session_Out.cpp
+++ b/pcsx2/DEV9/Sessions/TCP_Session/TCP_Session_Out.cpp
@@ -366,7 +366,7 @@ namespace Sessions
 			std::unique_ptr<TCP_Packet> ret = CreateBasePacket();
 			ret->SetACK(true);
 
-			PushRecvBuff(std::move(ret));
+			PushRecvBuff(ReceivedPayload{destIP, std::move(ret)});
 		}
 		return true;
 	}
@@ -524,7 +524,7 @@ namespace Sessions
 		std::unique_ptr<TCP_Packet> ret = CreateBasePacket();
 
 		ret->SetACK(true);
-		PushRecvBuff(std::move(ret));
+		PushRecvBuff(ReceivedPayload{destIP, std::move(ret)});
 
 		return true;
 	}
@@ -591,7 +591,7 @@ namespace Sessions
 
 		ret->SetACK(true);
 
-		PushRecvBuff(std::move(ret));
+		PushRecvBuff(ReceivedPayload{destIP, std::move(ret)});
 
 		if (myNumberACKed.load())
 		{
@@ -611,7 +611,7 @@ namespace Sessions
 	{
 		std::unique_ptr<TCP_Packet> reterr = CreateBasePacket();
 		reterr->SetRST(true);
-		PushRecvBuff(std::move(reterr));
+		PushRecvBuff(ReceivedPayload{destIP, std::move(reterr)});
 
 		CloseSocket();
 		state = TCP_State::CloseCompletedFlushBuffer;