diff --git a/subsys/bluetooth/host/hci_core.c b/subsys/bluetooth/host/hci_core.c
index a9eb0d0d1afd015..0abe7c62d9a9d9b 100644
--- a/subsys/bluetooth/host/hci_core.c
+++ b/subsys/bluetooth/host/hci_core.c
@@ -1756,6 +1756,12 @@ static void hci_encrypt_change(struct net_buf *buf)
 		return;
 	}
 
+	if (conn->encrypt == evt->encrypt) {
+		LOG_WRN("No change to encryption state (encrypt 0x%02x)", evt->encrypt);
+		bt_conn_unref(conn);
+		return;
+	}
+
 	conn->encrypt = evt->encrypt;
 
 #if defined(CONFIG_BT_SMP)