diff --git a/net/bluetooth/hci_sync.c b/net/bluetooth/hci_sync.c
index cdc7dff7054c..f50d7cd3a331 100644
--- a/net/bluetooth/hci_sync.c
+++ b/net/bluetooth/hci_sync.c
@@ -7336,7 +7336,7 @@ static void create_pa_complete(struct hci_dev *hdev, void *data, int err)
 	bt_dev_dbg(hdev, "err %d", err);
 
 	if (err == -ECANCELED)
-		return;
+		goto done;
 
 	hci_dev_lock(hdev);
 
@@ -7360,6 +7360,8 @@ static void create_pa_complete(struct hci_dev *hdev, void *data, int err)
 
 unlock:
 	hci_dev_unlock(hdev);
+done:
+	hci_conn_put(conn);
 }
 
 static int hci_le_past_params_sync(struct hci_dev *hdev, struct hci_conn *conn,
@@ -7510,8 +7512,11 @@ int hci_connect_pa_sync(struct hci_dev *hdev, struct hci_conn *conn)
 {
 	int err;
 
-	err = hci_cmd_sync_queue_once(hdev, hci_le_pa_create_sync, conn,
+	err = hci_cmd_sync_queue_once(hdev, hci_le_pa_create_sync,
+				      hci_conn_get(conn),
 				      create_pa_complete);
+	if (err)
+		hci_conn_put(conn);
 	return (err == -EEXIST) ? 0 : err;
 }