diff --git a/net/bluetooth/hci_conn.c b/net/bluetooth/hci_conn.c
index e2b8ec268582..b9ca0a61b44e 100644
--- a/net/bluetooth/hci_conn.c
+++ b/net/bluetooth/hci_conn.c
@@ -2353,13 +2353,9 @@ struct hci_conn *hci_bind_bis(struct hci_dev *hdev, bdaddr_t *dst,
 					  conn->iso_qos.bcast.big);
 	if (parent && parent != conn) {
 		link = hci_conn_link(parent, conn);
-		if (!link) {
-			hci_conn_drop(conn);
-			return ERR_PTR(-ENOLINK);
-		}
-
-		/* Link takes the refcount */
 		hci_conn_drop(conn);
+		if (!link)
+			return ERR_PTR(-ENOLINK);
 	}
 
 	return conn;
@@ -2449,15 +2445,12 @@ struct hci_conn *hci_connect_cis(struct hci_dev *hdev, bdaddr_t *dst,
 	}
 
 	link = hci_conn_link(le, cis);
+	hci_conn_drop(cis);
 	if (!link) {
 		hci_conn_drop(le);
-		hci_conn_drop(cis);
 		return ERR_PTR(-ENOLINK);
 	}
 
-	/* Link takes the refcount */
-	hci_conn_drop(cis);
-
 	cis->state = BT_CONNECT;
 
 	hci_le_create_cis_pending(hdev);