diff --git a/include/net/buf.h b/include/net/buf.h
index 098f1e9e86f..c601dd41279 100644
--- a/include/net/buf.h
+++ b/include/net/buf.h
@@ -469,8 +469,8 @@ struct net_buf_pool {
  *  than an extern declaration.
  *
  *  If provided with a custom destroy callback this callback is
- *  responsible for eventually returning the buffer back to the free
- *  buffers FIFO through k_fifo_put(buf->free, buf).
+ *  responsible for eventually calling net_buf_destroy() to complete the
+ *  process of returning the buffer to the pool.
  *
  *  @param _name     Name of the pool variable.
  *  @param _count    Number of buffers in the pool.
@@ -548,6 +548,20 @@ struct net_buf *net_buf_get_debug(struct k_fifo *fifo, int32_t timeout,
 struct net_buf *net_buf_get(struct k_fifo *fifo, int32_t timeout);
 #endif
 
+/**
+ *  @brief Destroy buffer from custom destroy callback
+ *
+ *  This helper is only intended to be used from custom destroy callbacks.
+ *  If no custom destroy callback is given to NET_BUF_POOL_DEFINE() then
+ *  there is no need to use this API.
+ *
+ *  @param buf Buffer to destroy.
+ */
+static inline void net_buf_destroy(struct net_buf *buf)
+{
+	k_fifo_put(&buf->pool->free, buf);
+}
+
 /**
  *  @brief Initialize buffer with the given headroom.
  *
diff --git a/subsys/bluetooth/host/hci_core.c b/subsys/bluetooth/host/hci_core.c
index b5710111093..3f146f048f5 100644
--- a/subsys/bluetooth/host/hci_core.c
+++ b/subsys/bluetooth/host/hci_core.c
@@ -135,7 +135,7 @@ static void report_completed_packet(struct net_buf *buf)
 	uint16_t handle = acl(buf)->handle;
 	struct bt_hci_handle_count *hc;
 
-	k_fifo_put(&buf->pool->free, buf);
+	net_buf_destroy(buf);
 
 	/* Do nothing if controller to host flow control is not supported */
 	if (!(bt_dev.supported_commands[10] & 0x20)) {
diff --git a/subsys/net/buf.c b/subsys/net/buf.c
index 9df25e4674d..dc6118ed0fb 100644
--- a/subsys/net/buf.c
+++ b/subsys/net/buf.c
@@ -198,7 +198,7 @@ void net_buf_unref(struct net_buf *buf)
 		if (buf->pool->destroy) {
 			buf->pool->destroy(buf);
 		} else {
-			k_fifo_put(&buf->pool->free, buf);
+			net_buf_destroy(buf);
 		}
 
 		buf = frags;
diff --git a/subsys/net/ip/nbuf.c b/subsys/net/ip/nbuf.c
index db1887da407..d11cc863041 100644
--- a/subsys/net/ip/nbuf.c
+++ b/subsys/net/ip/nbuf.c
@@ -225,21 +225,21 @@ static inline void free_rx_bufs_func(struct net_buf *buf)
 {
 	inc_free_rx_bufs_func(buf);
 
-	k_fifo_put(&buf->pool->free, buf);
+	net_buf_destroy(buf);
 }
 
 static inline void free_tx_bufs_func(struct net_buf *buf)
 {
 	inc_free_tx_bufs_func(buf);
 
-	k_fifo_put(&buf->pool->free, buf);
+	net_buf_destroy(buf);
 }
 
 static inline void free_data_bufs_func(struct net_buf *buf)
 {
 	inc_free_data_bufs_func(buf);
 
-	k_fifo_put(&buf->pool->free, buf);
+	net_buf_destroy(buf);
 }
 
 /* The RX and TX pools do not store any data. Only bearer / protocol
diff --git a/tests/net/buf/src/main.c b/tests/net/buf/src/main.c
index 37f2192187a..23698844b2a 100644
--- a/tests/net/buf/src/main.c
+++ b/tests/net/buf/src/main.c
@@ -85,7 +85,7 @@ static void buf_destroy(struct net_buf *buf)
 
 	destroy_called++;
 	assert_equal(pool, &bufs_pool, "Invalid free pointer in buffer");
-	k_fifo_put(&pool->free, buf);
+	net_buf_destroy(buf);
 }
 
 static void frag_destroy(struct net_buf *buf)
@@ -95,7 +95,7 @@ static void frag_destroy(struct net_buf *buf)
 	frag_destroy_called++;
 	assert_equal(pool, &frags_pool,
 		     "Invalid free frag pointer in buffer");
-	k_fifo_put(&pool->free, buf);
+	net_buf_destroy(buf);
 }
 
 static void frag_destroy_big(struct net_buf *buf)
@@ -105,7 +105,7 @@ static void frag_destroy_big(struct net_buf *buf)
 	frag_destroy_called++;
 	assert_equal(pool, &big_frags_pool,
 		     "Invalid free big frag pointer in buffer");
-	k_fifo_put(&pool->free, buf);
+	net_buf_destroy(buf);
 }
 
 static const char example_data[] = "0123456789"