diff --git a/include/bluetooth/buf.h b/include/bluetooth/buf.h
index 63f5e9b79cb..8145cea73a7 100644
--- a/include/bluetooth/buf.h
+++ b/include/bluetooth/buf.h
@@ -76,15 +76,13 @@ struct bt_buf {
 		struct bt_buf_acl_data	acl;
 	};
 
-	/* Reference count */
-	uint8_t ref;
-
-	/* Type of data contained in the buffer */
-	uint8_t type;
-
 	/* Buffer data variables */
-	uint8_t len;
 	uint8_t *data;
+	uint8_t len;
+
+	uint8_t ref:5,   /* Reference count */
+	        type:3;  /* Type of data contained in the buffer */
+
 	uint8_t buf[BT_BUF_MAX_DATA];
 };