diff --git a/subsys/bluetooth/controller/ll_sw/ull_conn.c b/subsys/bluetooth/controller/ll_sw/ull_conn.c
index a816e6da9ac..51376c7d135 100644
--- a/subsys/bluetooth/controller/ll_sw/ull_conn.c
+++ b/subsys/bluetooth/controller/ll_sw/ull_conn.c
@@ -5407,7 +5407,9 @@ static inline int ctrl_rx(memq_link_t *link, struct node_rx_pdu **rx,
 #endif /* CONFIG_BT_CTLR_SLAVE_FEAT_REQ */
 
 	case PDU_DATA_LLCTRL_TYPE_FEATURE_RSP:
-		if (!pdu_len_cmp(PDU_DATA_LLCTRL_TYPE_FEATURE_RSP,
+		if ((!IS_ENABLED(CONFIG_BT_CTLR_SLAVE_FEAT_REQ) &&
+		     conn->lll.role) ||
+		    !pdu_len_cmp(PDU_DATA_LLCTRL_TYPE_FEATURE_RSP,
 				 pdu_rx->len)) {
 			goto ull_conn_rx_unknown_rsp_send;
 		}