diff --git a/subsys/bluetooth/mesh/main.c b/subsys/bluetooth/mesh/main.c
index ac50e494974..b5e58a0ed57 100644
--- a/subsys/bluetooth/mesh/main.c
+++ b/subsys/bluetooth/mesh/main.c
@@ -304,6 +304,10 @@ int bt_mesh_init(const struct bt_mesh_prov *prov,
 		return err;
 	}
 
+	if (IS_ENABLED(CONFIG_BT_MESH_PROXY)) {
+		bt_mesh_proxy_init();
+	}
+
 	if (IS_ENABLED(CONFIG_BT_MESH_PROV)) {
 		err = bt_mesh_prov_init(prov);
 		if (err) {
@@ -316,10 +320,6 @@ int bt_mesh_init(const struct bt_mesh_prov *prov,
 	bt_mesh_beacon_init();
 	bt_mesh_adv_init();
 
-	if (IS_ENABLED(CONFIG_BT_MESH_PROXY)) {
-		bt_mesh_proxy_init();
-	}
-
 	if (IS_ENABLED(CONFIG_BT_SETTINGS)) {
 		bt_mesh_settings_init();
 	}