diff --git a/protocols/kad/CHANGELOG.md b/protocols/kad/CHANGELOG.md
index bd0c9857cb53..51dce5b65568 100644
--- a/protocols/kad/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/protocols/kad/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -17,6 +17,8 @@
   See [PR 5148](https://github.com/libp2p/rust-libp2p/pull/5148).
 - Derive `Copy` for `kbucket::key::Key<T>`.
   See [PR 5317](https://github.com/libp2p/rust-libp2p/pull/5317).
+- Fix periodic bootstrap not handling correctly `NoKnownPeers` error.
+  See [PR 5349](https://github.com/libp2p/rust-libp2p/pull/5349).
 
 ## 0.45.3
 
diff --git a/protocols/kad/src/behaviour.rs b/protocols/kad/src/behaviour.rs
index fb77f3c0e0f5..92ac5ee6e656 100644
--- a/protocols/kad/src/behaviour.rs
+++ b/protocols/kad/src/behaviour.rs
@@ -931,6 +931,7 @@ where
     /// This parameter is used to call [`Behaviour::bootstrap`] periodically and automatically
     /// to ensure a healthy routing table.
     pub fn bootstrap(&mut self) -> Result<QueryId, NoKnownPeers> {
+        self.bootstrap_status.on_started();
         let local_key = *self.kbuckets.local_key();
         let info = QueryInfo::Bootstrap {
             peer: *local_key.preimage(),
@@ -939,9 +940,9 @@ where
         };
         let peers = self.kbuckets.closest_keys(&local_key).collect::<Vec<_>>();
         if peers.is_empty() {
+            self.bootstrap_status.on_finish();
             Err(NoKnownPeers())
         } else {
-            self.bootstrap_status.on_started();
             let inner = QueryInner::new(info);
             Ok(self.queries.add_iter_closest(local_key, peers, inner))
         }