diff --git a/src/dbus/server/dbus_thread_object_rcp.cpp b/src/dbus/server/dbus_thread_object_rcp.cpp
index ce73356639c..19bbbe3975b 100644
--- a/src/dbus/server/dbus_thread_object_rcp.cpp
+++ b/src/dbus/server/dbus_thread_object_rcp.cpp
@@ -2009,21 +2009,17 @@ void DBusThreadObjectRcp::DeactivateEphemeralKeyModeHandler(DBusRequest &aReques
 {
     otError error        = OT_ERROR_NONE;
     auto    threadHelper = mHost.GetThreadHelper();
+    bool    retain_active_session;
+    auto    args = std::tie(retain_active_session);
 
     VerifyOrExit(mBorderAgent.GetEphemeralKeyEnabled(), error = OT_ERROR_NOT_CAPABLE);
 
-    switch (otBorderAgentGetState(threadHelper->GetInstance()))
+    SuccessOrExit(DBusMessageToTuple(*aRequest.GetMessage(), args), error = OT_ERROR_INVALID_ARGS);
+    if (!retain_active_session)
     {
-    case OT_BORDER_AGENT_STATE_STOPPED:
-        error = OT_ERROR_FAILED;
-        break;
-    case OT_BORDER_AGENT_STATE_ACTIVE:
-        error = OT_ERROR_INVALID_STATE;
-        break;
-    case OT_BORDER_AGENT_STATE_STARTED:
-        otBorderAgentClearEphemeralKey(threadHelper->GetInstance());
-        break;
+        otBorderAgentDisconnect(threadHelper->GetInstance());
     }
+    otBorderAgentClearEphemeralKey(threadHelper->GetInstance());
 
 exit:
     aRequest.ReplyOtResult(error);
diff --git a/src/dbus/server/introspect.xml b/src/dbus/server/introspect.xml
index 21b358e51e3..2ae0696179b 100644
--- a/src/dbus/server/introspect.xml
+++ b/src/dbus/server/introspect.xml
@@ -246,8 +246,15 @@
       <arg name="epskc" type="s" direction="out"/>
     </method>
 
-    <!-- DeactivateEphemeralKeyMode: Deactivate ePSKc mode. -->
+    <!-- DeactivateEphemeralKeyMode: Deactivate ePSKc mode.
+      @retain_active_session: 
+        "false" - Disconnects the Border Agent from any active secure sessions.
+                  Ephemeral key would be cleared after the session is disconnected.
+        "true" - Deactivate ephemeral key mode softly. If there is already an active commissioner
+                 connection, the session will be retained and the ephemeral key mode is still active.
+    -->
     <method name="DeactivateEphemeralKeyMode">
+      <arg name="retain_active_session" type="b" direction="in"/>
     </method>
 
     <!-- MeshLocalPrefix: The /64 mesh-local prefix.  -->