diff --git a/subsys/bluetooth/host/mesh/cfg.c b/subsys/bluetooth/host/mesh/cfg.c
index 36a694e1e14..02f573a966a 100644
--- a/subsys/bluetooth/host/mesh/cfg.c
+++ b/subsys/bluetooth/host/mesh/cfg.c
@@ -2837,6 +2837,8 @@ static void heartbeat_sub_set(struct bt_mesh_model *model,
 
 	if (period_ms) {
 		cfg->hb_sub.expiry = k_uptime_get() + period_ms;
+	} else {
+		cfg->hb_sub.expiry = 0;
 	}
 
 	hb_sub_send_status(model, ctx, STATUS_SUCCESS);