diff --git a/examples/protocols/pppos_client/components/modem/src/esp_modem_netif.c b/examples/protocols/pppos_client/components/modem/src/esp_modem_netif.c
index bcddf66867..1c6f4bcf19 100644
--- a/examples/protocols/pppos_client/components/modem/src/esp_modem_netif.c
+++ b/examples/protocols/pppos_client/components/modem/src/esp_modem_netif.c
@@ -129,7 +129,6 @@ drv_create_failed:
 void esp_modem_netif_teardown(void *h)
 {
     esp_modem_netif_driver_t *driver = h;
-    esp_netif_destroy(driver->base.netif);
     free(driver);
 }
 
diff --git a/examples/protocols/pppos_client/main/pppos_client_main.c b/examples/protocols/pppos_client/main/pppos_client_main.c
index c4b5fd8ab0..4b34395b03 100644
--- a/examples/protocols/pppos_client/main/pppos_client_main.c
+++ b/examples/protocols/pppos_client/main/pppos_client_main.c
@@ -279,9 +279,10 @@ void app_main(void)
     esp_mqtt_client_destroy(mqtt_client);
     /* Exit PPP mode */
     ESP_ERROR_CHECK(esp_modem_stop_ppp(dte));
-    /* Destroy the netif adapter withe events, which internally frees also the esp-netif instance */
+    /* Unregister events, destroy the netif adapter and destroy its esp-netif instance */
     esp_modem_netif_clear_default_handlers(modem_netif_adapter);
     esp_modem_netif_teardown(modem_netif_adapter);
+    esp_netif_destroy(esp_netif);
     xEventGroupWaitBits(event_group, STOP_BIT, pdTRUE, pdTRUE, portMAX_DELAY);
 #if CONFIG_EXAMPLE_SEND_MSG
     const char *message = "Welcome to ESP32!";