diff --git a/include/net/bluetooth/hci_core.h b/include/net/bluetooth/hci_core.h
index 888911d205dc..4f70605e0399 100644
--- a/include/net/bluetooth/hci_core.h
+++ b/include/net/bluetooth/hci_core.h
@@ -394,7 +394,6 @@ struct hci_conn {
 	__u8		remote_cap;
 	__u8		remote_auth;
 	__u8		remote_id;
-	bool		flush_key;
 
 	unsigned int	sent;
 
@@ -524,6 +523,7 @@ enum {
 	HCI_CONN_AES_CCM,
 	HCI_CONN_POWER_SAVE,
 	HCI_CONN_REMOTE_OOB,
+	HCI_CONN_FLUSH_KEY,
 };
 
 static inline bool hci_conn_ssp_enabled(struct hci_conn *conn)
diff --git a/net/bluetooth/hci_event.c b/net/bluetooth/hci_event.c
index c92c5a020fe7..90cba6a8293b 100644
--- a/net/bluetooth/hci_event.c
+++ b/net/bluetooth/hci_event.c
@@ -2159,7 +2159,8 @@ static void hci_disconn_complete_evt(struct hci_dev *hdev, struct sk_buff *skb)
 	mgmt_device_disconnected(hdev, &conn->dst, conn->type, conn->dst_type,
 				reason, mgmt_connected);
 
-	if (conn->type == ACL_LINK && conn->flush_key)
+	if (conn->type == ACL_LINK &&
+	    test_bit(HCI_CONN_FLUSH_KEY, &conn->flags))
 		hci_remove_link_key(hdev, &conn->dst);
 
 	params = hci_conn_params_lookup(hdev, &conn->dst, conn->dst_type);
@@ -3145,7 +3146,10 @@ static void hci_link_key_notify_evt(struct hci_dev *hdev, struct sk_buff *skb)
 		list_del(&key->list);
 		kfree(key);
 	} else if (conn) {
-		conn->flush_key = !persistent;
+		if (persistent)
+			clear_bit(HCI_CONN_FLUSH_KEY, &conn->flags);
+		else
+			set_bit(HCI_CONN_FLUSH_KEY, &conn->flags);
 	}
 
 unlock: