diff --git a/net/bluetooth/hci_event.c b/net/bluetooth/hci_event.c
index c92d780a77a6..c64f10b17cc0 100644
--- a/net/bluetooth/hci_event.c
+++ b/net/bluetooth/hci_event.c
@@ -5330,10 +5330,11 @@ static void le_conn_complete_evt(struct hci_dev *hdev, u8 status,
 
 	hci_dev_lock(hdev);
 
-	/* All controllers implicitly stop advertising in the event of a
-	 * connection, so ensure that the state bit is cleared.
+	/* Advertising stops when a connection is created. On a failed
+	 * connection it keeps running, so leave the state bit alone.
 	 */
-	hci_dev_clear_flag(hdev, HCI_LE_ADV);
+	if (!status)
+		hci_dev_clear_flag(hdev, HCI_LE_ADV);
 
 	conn = hci_lookup_le_connect(hdev);
 	if (!conn) {