diff --git a/include/bluetooth/mesh/access.h b/include/bluetooth/mesh/access.h
index 90de7aa41a9..294fd215fbd 100644
--- a/include/bluetooth/mesh/access.h
+++ b/include/bluetooth/mesh/access.h
@@ -340,17 +340,17 @@ struct bt_mesh_model_pub {
 	/** The model the context belongs to. Initialized by the stack. */
 	struct bt_mesh_model *mod;
 
-	uint16_t addr;         /**< Publish Address. */
-	uint16_t key:12,       /**< Publish AppKey Index. */
-	      cred:1,       /**< Friendship Credentials Flag. */
-	      send_rel:1;   /**< Force reliable sending (segment acks) */
+	uint16_t addr;          /**< Publish Address. */
+	uint16_t key:12,        /**< Publish AppKey Index. */
+		 cred:1,        /**< Friendship Credentials Flag. */
+		 send_rel:1,    /**< Force reliable sending (segment acks) */
+		 fast_period:1; /**< Use FastPeriodDivisor */
 
 	uint8_t  ttl;          /**< Publish Time to Live. */
 	uint8_t  retransmit;   /**< Retransmit Count & Interval Steps. */
 	uint8_t  period;       /**< Publish Period. */
 	uint8_t  period_div:4, /**< Divisor for the Period. */
-	      fast_period:1,/**< Use FastPeriodDivisor */
-	      count:3;      /**< Retransmissions left. */
+		 count:4;      /**< Transmissions left. */
 
 	uint32_t period_start; /**< Start of the current period. */
 
@@ -381,7 +381,7 @@ struct bt_mesh_model_pub {
 	int (*update)(struct bt_mesh_model *mod);
 
 	/** Publish Period Timer. Only for stack-internal use. */
-	struct k_delayed_work timer;
+	struct k_work_delayable timer;
 };
 
 /** @def BT_MESH_MODEL_PUB_DEFINE
diff --git a/subsys/bluetooth/mesh/access.c b/subsys/bluetooth/mesh/access.c
index dcc9adc7b3b..65c1b6fb670 100644
--- a/subsys/bluetooth/mesh/access.c
+++ b/subsys/bluetooth/mesh/access.c
@@ -150,7 +150,10 @@ static void publish_sent(int err, void *user_data)
 
 	if (delay) {
 		BT_DBG("Publishing next time in %dms", delay);
-		k_delayed_work_submit(&mod->pub->timer, K_MSEC(delay));
+		/* Using schedule() in case the application has already called
+		 * bt_mesh_publish, and a publication is pending.
+		 */
+		k_work_schedule(&mod->pub->timer, K_MSEC(delay));
 	}
 }
 
@@ -161,6 +164,7 @@ static void publish_start(uint16_t duration, int err, void *user_data)
 
 	if (err) {
 		BT_ERR("Failed to publish: err %d", err);
+		publish_sent(err, user_data);
 		return;
 	}
 
@@ -175,7 +179,7 @@ static const struct bt_mesh_send_cb pub_sent_cb = {
 	.end = publish_sent,
 };
 
-static int publish_retransmit(struct bt_mesh_model *mod)
+static int publish_transmit(struct bt_mesh_model *mod)
 {
 	NET_BUF_SIMPLE_DEFINE(sdu, BT_MESH_TX_SDU_MAX);
 	struct bt_mesh_model_pub *pub = mod->pub;
@@ -192,67 +196,68 @@ static int publish_retransmit(struct bt_mesh_model *mod)
 
 	net_buf_simple_add_mem(&sdu, pub->msg->data, pub->msg->len);
 
-	pub->count--;
-
 	return bt_mesh_trans_send(&tx, &sdu, &pub_sent_cb, mod);
 }
 
-static void publish_retransmit_end(int err, struct bt_mesh_model_pub *pub)
+static int pub_period_start(struct bt_mesh_model_pub *pub)
 {
-	/* Cancel all retransmits for this publish attempt */
-	pub->count = 0U;
-	/* Make sure the publish timer gets reset */
-	publish_sent(err, pub->mod);
+	int err;
+
+	pub->count = BT_MESH_PUB_TRANSMIT_COUNT(pub->retransmit);
+
+	if (!pub->update) {
+		return 0;
+	}
+
+	err = pub->update(pub->mod);
+	if (err) {
+		/* Skip this publish attempt. */
+		BT_DBG("Update failed, skipping publish (err: %d)", err);
+		pub->count = 0;
+		pub->period_start = k_uptime_get_32();
+		publish_sent(err, pub);
+		return err;
+	}
+
+	return 0;
 }
 
 static void mod_publish(struct k_work *work)
 {
-	struct bt_mesh_model_pub *pub = CONTAINER_OF(work,
+	struct k_work_delayable *dwork = k_work_delayable_from_work(work);
+	struct bt_mesh_model_pub *pub = CONTAINER_OF(dwork,
 						     struct bt_mesh_model_pub,
-						     timer.work);
-	int32_t period_ms;
+						     timer);
 	int err;
 
+	if (pub->addr == BT_MESH_ADDR_UNASSIGNED ||
+	    atomic_test_bit(bt_mesh.flags, BT_MESH_SUSPENDED)) {
+		/* Publication is no longer active, but the cancellation of the
+		 * delayed work failed. Abandon recurring timer.
+		 */
+		return;
+	}
+
 	BT_DBG("");
 
-	period_ms = bt_mesh_model_pub_period_get(pub->mod);
-	BT_DBG("period %u ms", period_ms);
-
 	if (pub->count) {
-		err = publish_retransmit(pub->mod);
+		pub->count--;
+	} else {
+		/* First publication in this period */
+		err = pub_period_start(pub);
 		if (err) {
-			BT_ERR("Failed to retransmit (err %d)", err);
+			return;
+		}
+	}
 
-			pub->count = 0U;
-
-			/* Continue with normal publication */
-			if (period_ms) {
-				k_delayed_work_submit(&pub->timer,
-						      K_MSEC(period_ms));
-			}
+	err = publish_transmit(pub->mod);
+	if (err) {
+		BT_ERR("Failed to publish (err %d)", err);
+		if (pub->count == BT_MESH_PUB_TRANSMIT_COUNT(pub->retransmit)) {
+			pub->period_start = k_uptime_get_32();
 		}
 
-		return;
-	}
-
-	if (!period_ms) {
-		return;
-	}
-
-	__ASSERT_NO_MSG(pub->update != NULL);
-
-	err = pub->update(pub->mod);
-	if (err) {
-		/* Cancel this publish attempt. */
-		BT_DBG("Update failed, skipping publish (err: %d)", err);
-		pub->period_start = k_uptime_get_32();
-		publish_retransmit_end(err, pub);
-		return;
-	}
-
-	err = bt_mesh_model_publish(pub->mod);
-	if (err) {
-		BT_ERR("Publishing failed (err %d)", err);
+		publish_sent(err, pub->mod);
 	}
 }
 
@@ -301,7 +306,7 @@ static void mod_init(struct bt_mesh_model *mod, struct bt_mesh_elem *elem,
 
 	if (mod->pub) {
 		mod->pub->mod = mod;
-		k_delayed_work_init(&mod->pub->timer, mod_publish);
+		k_work_init_delayable(&mod->pub->timer, mod_publish);
 	}
 
 	for (i = 0; i < ARRAY_SIZE(mod->keys); i++) {
@@ -630,40 +635,7 @@ void bt_mesh_model_recv(struct bt_mesh_net_rx *rx, struct net_buf_simple *buf)
 	}
 }
 
-static int model_send(struct bt_mesh_model *model,
-		      struct bt_mesh_net_tx *tx, bool implicit_bind,
-		      struct net_buf_simple *msg,
-		      const struct bt_mesh_send_cb *cb, void *cb_data)
-{
-	BT_DBG("net_idx 0x%04x app_idx 0x%04x dst 0x%04x", tx->ctx->net_idx,
-	       tx->ctx->app_idx, tx->ctx->addr);
-	BT_DBG("len %u: %s", msg->len, bt_hex(msg->data, msg->len));
-
-	if (!bt_mesh_is_provisioned()) {
-		BT_ERR("Local node is not yet provisioned");
-		return -EAGAIN;
-	}
-
-	if (net_buf_simple_tailroom(msg) < 4) {
-		BT_ERR("Not enough tailroom for TransMIC");
-		return -EINVAL;
-	}
-
-	if (msg->len > BT_MESH_TX_SDU_MAX - 4) {
-		BT_ERR("Too big message");
-		return -EMSGSIZE;
-	}
-
-	if (!implicit_bind && !model_has_key(model, tx->ctx->app_idx)) {
-		BT_ERR("Model not bound to AppKey 0x%04x", tx->ctx->app_idx);
-		return -EINVAL;
-	}
-
-	return bt_mesh_trans_send(tx, msg, cb, cb_data);
-}
-
-int bt_mesh_model_send(struct bt_mesh_model *model,
-		       struct bt_mesh_msg_ctx *ctx,
+int bt_mesh_model_send(struct bt_mesh_model *model, struct bt_mesh_msg_ctx *ctx,
 		       struct net_buf_simple *msg,
 		       const struct bt_mesh_send_cb *cb, void *cb_data)
 {
@@ -672,60 +644,58 @@ int bt_mesh_model_send(struct bt_mesh_model *model,
 		.src = bt_mesh_model_elem(model)->addr,
 	};
 
-	return model_send(model, &tx, false, msg, cb, cb_data);
+	BT_DBG("net_idx 0x%04x app_idx 0x%04x dst 0x%04x", tx.ctx->net_idx,
+	       tx.ctx->app_idx, tx.ctx->addr);
+	BT_DBG("len %u: %s", msg->len, bt_hex(msg->data, msg->len));
+
+	if (!bt_mesh_is_provisioned()) {
+		BT_ERR("Local node is not yet provisioned");
+		return -EAGAIN;
+	}
+
+	if (!model_has_key(model, tx.ctx->app_idx)) {
+		BT_ERR("Model not bound to AppKey 0x%04x", tx.ctx->app_idx);
+		return -EINVAL;
+	}
+
+	return bt_mesh_trans_send(&tx, msg, cb, cb_data);
 }
 
 int bt_mesh_model_publish(struct bt_mesh_model *model)
 {
-	NET_BUF_SIMPLE_DEFINE(sdu, BT_MESH_TX_SDU_MAX);
 	struct bt_mesh_model_pub *pub = model->pub;
 
 	if (!pub) {
 		return -ENOTSUP;
 	}
 
-	struct bt_mesh_msg_ctx ctx = {
-		.addr = pub->addr,
-		.send_ttl = pub->ttl,
-		.send_rel = pub->send_rel,
-		.app_idx = pub->key,
-	};
-	struct bt_mesh_net_tx tx = {
-		.ctx = &ctx,
-		.src = bt_mesh_model_elem(model)->addr,
-	};
-	int err;
-
 	BT_DBG("");
 
 	if (pub->addr == BT_MESH_ADDR_UNASSIGNED) {
 		return -EADDRNOTAVAIL;
 	}
 
-	if (pub->msg->len + 4 > BT_MESH_TX_SDU_MAX) {
+	if (!pub->msg || !pub->msg->len) {
+		BT_ERR("No publication message");
+		return -EINVAL;
+	}
+
+	if (pub->msg->len + BT_MESH_MIC_SHORT > BT_MESH_TX_SDU_MAX) {
 		BT_ERR("Message does not fit maximum SDU size");
 		return -EMSGSIZE;
 	}
 
 	if (pub->count) {
 		BT_WARN("Clearing publish retransmit timer");
-		k_delayed_work_cancel(&pub->timer);
 	}
 
-	net_buf_simple_add_mem(&sdu, pub->msg->data, pub->msg->len);
-
-	tx.friend_cred = pub->cred;
-
-	pub->count = BT_MESH_PUB_TRANSMIT_COUNT(pub->retransmit);
+	/* Account for initial transmission */
+	pub->count = BT_MESH_PUB_TRANSMIT_COUNT(pub->retransmit) + 1;
 
 	BT_DBG("Publish Retransmit Count %u Interval %ums", pub->count,
 	       BT_MESH_PUB_TRANSMIT_INT(pub->retransmit));
 
-	err = model_send(model, &tx, true, &sdu, &pub_sent_cb, model);
-	if (err) {
-		publish_retransmit_end(err, pub);
-		return err;
-	}
+	k_work_reschedule(&pub->timer, K_NO_WAIT);
 
 	return 0;
 }
@@ -1208,7 +1178,7 @@ static void commit_mod(struct bt_mesh_model *mod, struct bt_mesh_elem *elem,
 
 		if (ms > 0) {
 			BT_DBG("Starting publish timer (period %u ms)", ms);
-			k_delayed_work_submit(&mod->pub->timer, K_MSEC(ms));
+			k_work_schedule(&mod->pub->timer, K_MSEC(ms));
 		}
 	}
 
diff --git a/subsys/bluetooth/mesh/cfg_srv.c b/subsys/bluetooth/mesh/cfg_srv.c
index c62ebb490c7..589d85d19a2 100644
--- a/subsys/bluetooth/mesh/cfg_srv.c
+++ b/subsys/bluetooth/mesh/cfg_srv.c
@@ -201,7 +201,10 @@ static uint8_t _mod_pub_set(struct bt_mesh_model *model, uint16_t pub_addr,
 		model->pub->count = 0U;
 
 		if (model->pub->update) {
-			k_delayed_work_cancel(&model->pub->timer);
+			/* If this fails, the timer will check pub->addr and
+			 * exit without transmitting.
+			 */
+			(void)k_work_cancel_delayable(&model->pub->timer);
 		}
 
 		if (IS_ENABLED(CONFIG_BT_SETTINGS) && store) {
@@ -239,10 +242,13 @@ static uint8_t _mod_pub_set(struct bt_mesh_model *model, uint16_t pub_addr,
 		BT_DBG("period %u ms", period_ms);
 
 		if (period_ms > 0) {
-			k_delayed_work_submit(&model->pub->timer,
-					      K_MSEC(period_ms));
+			k_work_reschedule(&model->pub->timer,
+					  K_MSEC(period_ms));
 		} else {
-			k_delayed_work_cancel(&model->pub->timer);
+			/* If this fails, publication will stop after the
+			 * ongoing set of retransmits.
+			 */
+			(void)k_work_cancel_delayable(&model->pub->timer);
 		}
 	}
 
diff --git a/subsys/bluetooth/mesh/main.c b/subsys/bluetooth/mesh/main.c
index d470f7f8ade..0f16e0c7c4d 100644
--- a/subsys/bluetooth/mesh/main.c
+++ b/subsys/bluetooth/mesh/main.c
@@ -227,7 +227,10 @@ static void model_suspend(struct bt_mesh_model *mod, struct bt_mesh_elem *elem,
 {
 	if (mod->pub && mod->pub->update) {
 		mod->pub->count = 0U;
-		k_delayed_work_cancel(&mod->pub->timer);
+		/* If this fails, the work handler will check the suspend call
+		 * and exit without transmitting.
+		 */
+		(void)k_work_cancel_delayable(&mod->pub->timer);
 	}
 }
 
@@ -268,8 +271,8 @@ static void model_resume(struct bt_mesh_model *mod, struct bt_mesh_elem *elem,
 		int32_t period_ms = bt_mesh_model_pub_period_get(mod);
 
 		if (period_ms) {
-			k_delayed_work_submit(&mod->pub->timer,
-					      K_MSEC(period_ms));
+			k_work_reschedule(&mod->pub->timer,
+					  K_MSEC(period_ms));
 		}
 	}
 }