diff --git a/net/bluetooth/hci_conn.c b/net/bluetooth/hci_conn.c
index 65a3fb5678eb..fe712a89a856 100644
--- a/net/bluetooth/hci_conn.c
+++ b/net/bluetooth/hci_conn.c
@@ -442,6 +442,9 @@ static int hci_conn_auth(struct hci_conn *conn, __u8 sec_level, __u8 auth_type)
 	else if (conn->link_mode & HCI_LM_AUTH)
 		return 1;
 
+	/* Make sure we preserve an existing MITM requirement*/
+	auth_type |= (conn->auth_type & 0x01);
+
 	conn->auth_type = auth_type;
 
 	if (!test_and_set_bit(HCI_CONN_AUTH_PEND, &conn->pend)) {