diff --git a/subsys/bluetooth/controller/ll_sw/ull_conn.c b/subsys/bluetooth/controller/ll_sw/ull_conn.c
index a1560b0d7f7..f260c71eb5d 100644
--- a/subsys/bluetooth/controller/ll_sw/ull_conn.c
+++ b/subsys/bluetooth/controller/ll_sw/ull_conn.c
@@ -1652,12 +1652,18 @@ void ull_conn_done(struct node_rx_event_done *done)
 #endif /* CONFIG_BT_CTLR_LE_PING */
 
 #if defined(CONFIG_BT_CTLR_DF_CONN_CTE_REQ)
-	if (conn->llcp.cte_req.req_expire != 0U) {
+	/* Check if the CTE_REQ procedure is periodic and counter has been started.
+	 * req_expire is set when: new CTE_REQ is started, after completion of last periodic run.
+	 */
+	if (conn->llcp.cte_req.req_interval != 0U && conn->llcp.cte_req.req_expire != 0U) {
 		if (conn->llcp.cte_req.req_expire > elapsed_event) {
 			conn->llcp.cte_req.req_expire -= elapsed_event;
 		} else {
 			uint8_t err;
 
+			/* Set req_expire to zero to mark that new periodic CTE_REQ was started.
+			 * The counter is re-started after completion of this run.
+			 */
 			conn->llcp.cte_req.req_expire = 0U;
 
 			err = ull_cp_cte_req(conn, conn->llcp.cte_req.min_cte_len,