diff --git a/arch/risc-v/src/esp32c3-legacy/esp32c3_wifi_adapter.c b/arch/risc-v/src/esp32c3-legacy/esp32c3_wifi_adapter.c
index 504499d89e197..33bf1a06831e6 100644
--- a/arch/risc-v/src/esp32c3-legacy/esp32c3_wifi_adapter.c
+++ b/arch/risc-v/src/esp32c3-legacy/esp32c3_wifi_adapter.c
@@ -2257,6 +2257,13 @@ static void esp_evt_work_cb(void *arg)
           break;
         }
 
+      /* Some of the following logic (eg. esp32c3_wlan_sta_set_linkstatus)
+       * can take net_lock(). To maintain the consistent locking order,
+       * we take net_lock() here before taking esp_wifi_lock. Note that
+       * net_lock() is a recursive lock.
+       */
+
+      net_lock();
       esp_wifi_lock(true);
 
       switch (evt_adpt->id)
@@ -2397,6 +2404,7 @@ static void esp_evt_work_cb(void *arg)
         }
 
       esp_wifi_lock(false);
+      net_unlock();
 
       kmm_free(evt_adpt);
     }