diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index e58c59b0d..608f5abb5 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -19,6 +19,7 @@ and this project adheres to [Semantic Versioning](http://semver.org/spec/v2.0.0.
 - Linux: Audio sink implementation for Linux ALSA
 
 ### Fixed
+- HCI: fix incorrect assert/regression in num completed packets handling introduced in 6ec1ca0
 - GAP: store link key for standard/non-SSP pairing
 - SM: fix pairing as Peripheral with Extended Advertising and LE Advertisement Set Terminated after Connection Complete 
 - BNEP: emit channel opened with ERROR_CODE_REMOTE_USER_TERMINATED_CONNECTION if connection cannot be set up
diff --git a/src/hci.c b/src/hci.c
index 330683f67..6d2874707 100644
--- a/src/hci.c
+++ b/src/hci.c
@@ -683,8 +683,8 @@ uint16_t hci_number_free_acl_slots_for_connection_type(bd_addr_type_t address_ty
         free_slots_le = hci_stack->le_acl_packets_total_num - num_packets_sent_le;
     } else {
         // otherwise, classic slots are used for LE, too
-        free_slots_classic -= num_packets_sent_le;
         btstack_assert(free_slots_classic >= num_packets_sent_le);
+        free_slots_classic -= num_packets_sent_le;
     }
 
     switch (address_type){