diff --git a/subsys/bluetooth/shell/bt.c b/subsys/bluetooth/shell/bt.c
index e641b1faf36..9215f847fa1 100644
--- a/subsys/bluetooth/shell/bt.c
+++ b/subsys/bluetooth/shell/bt.c
@@ -415,7 +415,7 @@ void le_phy_updated(struct bt_conn *conn,
 }
 #endif
 
-BT_CONN_CB_DEFINE(conn_callbacks) = {
+static struct bt_conn_cb conn_callbacks = {
 	.connected = connected,
 	.disconnected = disconnected,
 	.le_param_req = le_param_req,
@@ -573,6 +573,8 @@ static void bt_ready(int err)
 
 #if defined(CONFIG_BT_CONN)
 	default_conn = NULL;
+
+	bt_conn_cb_register(&conn_callbacks);
 #endif /* CONFIG_BT_CONN */
 
 #if defined(CONFIG_BT_PER_ADV_SYNC)