diff --git a/subsys/bluetooth/mesh/net.c b/subsys/bluetooth/mesh/net.c
index b0851de3b60..b2f2c3d3585 100644
--- a/subsys/bluetooth/mesh/net.c
+++ b/subsys/bluetooth/mesh/net.c
@@ -783,7 +783,7 @@ int bt_mesh_net_resend(struct bt_mesh_subnet *sub, struct net_buf *buf,
 
 	if (IS_ENABLED(CONFIG_BT_MESH_GATT_PROXY) &&
 	    bt_mesh_proxy_relay(&buf->b, dst)) {
-		net_buf_unref(buf);
+		send_cb_finalize(cb, cb_data);
 	} else {
 		bt_mesh_adv_send(buf, cb, cb_data);
 	}