diff --git a/subsys/net/ip/ipv6_mld.c b/subsys/net/ip/ipv6_mld.c
index 2bd67a08c8..f2ae80e0f1 100644
--- a/subsys/net/ip/ipv6_mld.c
+++ b/subsys/net/ip/ipv6_mld.c
@@ -299,9 +299,11 @@ static int send_mld_report(struct net_if *iface)
 
 	ret = mld_send(pkt);
 	if (ret < 0) {
-		return ret;
+		goto drop;
 	}
 
+	return 0;
+
 drop:
 	net_pkt_unref(pkt);