diff --git a/subsys/bluetooth/host/l2cap.c b/subsys/bluetooth/host/l2cap.c
index 5f8fd59799f..ccdd08598dc 100644
--- a/subsys/bluetooth/host/l2cap.c
+++ b/subsys/bluetooth/host/l2cap.c
@@ -2358,6 +2358,20 @@ static int l2cap_le_connect(struct bt_conn *conn, struct bt_l2cap_le_chan *ch,
 
 	ch->chan.psm = psm;
 
+	if (conn->sec_level < ch->chan.required_sec_level) {
+		int err;
+
+		err = bt_conn_set_security(conn, ch->chan.required_sec_level);
+		if (err) {
+			return err;
+		}
+
+		atomic_set_bit(ch->chan.status,
+			       BT_L2CAP_STATUS_ENCRYPT_PENDING);
+
+		return 0;
+	}
+
 	return l2cap_le_conn_req(ch);
 }