diff --git a/subsys/bluetooth/host/adv.c b/subsys/bluetooth/host/adv.c
index e67751e1953..29a029ea0de 100644
--- a/subsys/bluetooth/host/adv.c
+++ b/subsys/bluetooth/host/adv.c
@@ -1139,6 +1139,7 @@ static int le_ext_adv_param_set(struct bt_le_ext_adv *adv,
 	err = bt_id_set_adv_own_addr(adv, param->options, dir_adv,
 				     &cp->own_addr_type);
 	if (err) {
+		net_buf_unref(buf);
 		return err;
 	}