diff --git a/dp/wifi3.0/dp_main.c b/dp/wifi3.0/dp_main.c
index eeeb75ae91..c2527945ae 100644
--- a/dp/wifi3.0/dp_main.c
+++ b/dp/wifi3.0/dp_main.c
@@ -5131,7 +5131,8 @@ static void dp_vdev_flush_peers(struct cdp_vdev *vdev_handle,
 						 vdev->vdev_id,
 						 peer->mac_addr.raw, 0,
 						 DP_PEER_WDS_COUNT_INVALID);
-			SET_PEER_REF_CNT_ONE(peer);
+			if (!IS_MLO_DP_MLD_PEER(peer))
+				SET_PEER_REF_CNT_ONE(peer);
 		}
 
 		dp_peer_unref_delete(peer, DP_MOD_ID_CDP);