diff --git a/net/bluetooth/hci_conn.c b/net/bluetooth/hci_conn.c
index 2b5059a56cda..7a7e92be1652 100644
--- a/net/bluetooth/hci_conn.c
+++ b/net/bluetooth/hci_conn.c
@@ -541,7 +541,9 @@ static void le_conn_timeout(struct work_struct *work)
 	if (conn->role == HCI_ROLE_SLAVE) {
 		/* Disable LE Advertising */
 		le_disable_advertising(hdev);
+		hci_dev_lock(hdev);
 		hci_le_conn_failed(conn, HCI_ERROR_ADVERTISING_TIMEOUT);
+		hci_dev_unlock(hdev);
 		return;
 	}