diff --git a/subsys/bluetooth/mesh/app_keys.c b/subsys/bluetooth/mesh/app_keys.c
index 84b564fdd9c..d932f9617b4 100644
--- a/subsys/bluetooth/mesh/app_keys.c
+++ b/subsys/bluetooth/mesh/app_keys.c
@@ -249,7 +249,7 @@ uint8_t bt_mesh_app_key_add(uint16_t app_idx, uint16_t net_idx,
 
 	if (app->app_idx == app_idx) {
 		if (app->net_idx != net_idx) {
-			return STATUS_INVALID_BINDING;
+			return STATUS_INVALID_NETKEY;
 		}
 
 		if (memcmp(key, app->keys[0].val, 16)) {