diff --git a/tests/bluetooth/shell/src/main.c b/tests/bluetooth/shell/src/main.c
index d1a8e9f961b..68dc2b26590 100644
--- a/tests/bluetooth/shell/src/main.c
+++ b/tests/bluetooth/shell/src/main.c
@@ -2130,6 +2130,11 @@ static int cmd_l2cap_connect(int argc, char *argv[])
 		return -EINVAL;
 	}
 
+	if (l2cap_chan.chan.conn) {
+		printk("Channel already in use\n");
+		return -EINVAL;
+	}
+
 	psm = strtoul(argv[1], NULL, 16);
 
 	err = bt_l2cap_chan_connect(default_conn, &l2cap_chan.chan, psm);