diff --git a/subsys/bluetooth/host/att.c b/subsys/bluetooth/host/att.c
index 7915d942da4..65b443d04bc 100644
--- a/subsys/bluetooth/host/att.c
+++ b/subsys/bluetooth/host/att.c
@@ -158,6 +158,14 @@ K_FIFO_DEFINE(free_att_tx_meta_data);
 
 static struct bt_att_tx_meta_data *tx_meta_data_alloc(k_timeout_t timeout)
 {
+	/* The meta data always get freed in the system workqueue,
+	 * so if we're in the same workqueue but there are no immediate
+	 * contexts available, there's no chance we'll get one by waiting.
+	 */
+	if (k_current_get() == &k_sys_work_q.thread) {
+		return k_fifo_get(&free_att_tx_meta_data, K_NO_WAIT);
+	}
+
 	return k_fifo_get(&free_att_tx_meta_data, timeout);
 }