diff --git a/drivers/bluetooth/hci_bcsp.c b/drivers/bluetooth/hci_bcsp.c
index 664d82d1e613..591abe6d63dd 100644
--- a/drivers/bluetooth/hci_bcsp.c
+++ b/drivers/bluetooth/hci_bcsp.c
@@ -582,6 +582,9 @@ static int bcsp_recv(struct hci_uart *hu, const void *data, int count)
 	struct bcsp_struct *bcsp = hu->priv;
 	const unsigned char *ptr;
 
+	if (!test_bit(HCI_UART_REGISTERED, &hu->flags))
+		return -EUNATCH;
+
 	BT_DBG("hu %p count %d rx_state %d rx_count %ld",
 	       hu, count, bcsp->rx_state, bcsp->rx_count);