diff --git a/components/tcpip_adapter/tcpip_adapter_compat.c b/components/tcpip_adapter/tcpip_adapter_compat.c
index cd970f4c89..e8e9479ac4 100644
--- a/components/tcpip_adapter/tcpip_adapter_compat.c
+++ b/components/tcpip_adapter/tcpip_adapter_compat.c
@@ -178,7 +178,12 @@ esp_err_t tcpip_adapter_set_default_wifi_handlers(void)
 
 esp_err_t tcpip_adapter_clear_default_wifi_handlers(void)
 {
-    return _esp_wifi_clear_default_wifi_handlers();
+    if (s_tcpip_adapter_compat) {
+        // Clear default handlers only if tcpip-adapter mode used
+        return _esp_wifi_clear_default_wifi_handlers();
+    }
+    // No action if tcpip-adapter compatibility enabled, but interfaces created/configured with esp-netif
+    return ESP_OK;
 }
 
 tcpip_adapter_if_t tcpip_adapter_if_from_esp_netif(esp_netif_t *esp_netif)