diff --git a/subsys/net/l2/ethernet/bridge.c b/subsys/net/l2/ethernet/bridge.c
index 905914a909de1d..4b883643c3a3fe 100644
--- a/subsys/net/l2/ethernet/bridge.c
+++ b/subsys/net/l2/ethernet/bridge.c
@@ -345,7 +345,7 @@ static enum net_verdict bridge_iface_process(struct net_if *iface,
 	/* Drop all link-local packets for now. */
 	if (is_link_local_addr((struct net_eth_addr *)net_pkt_lladdr_dst(pkt))) {
 		NET_DBG("DROP: lladdr");
-		return NET_DROP;
+		goto out;
 	}
 
 	lock_bridge(ctx);
@@ -397,11 +397,11 @@ static enum net_verdict bridge_iface_process(struct net_if *iface,
 
 	unlock_bridge(ctx);
 
+out:
 	/* The packet was cloned by the caller so remove it here. */
 	net_pkt_unref(pkt);
 
 	return NET_OK;
-
 }
 
 int bridge_iface_send(struct net_if *iface, struct net_pkt *pkt)