diff --git a/app/src/split/bluetooth/central.c b/app/src/split/bluetooth/central.c
index b70d79e3..ccf1cc28 100644
--- a/app/src/split/bluetooth/central.c
+++ b/app/src/split/bluetooth/central.c
@@ -433,20 +433,22 @@ static int stop_scanning() {
 static bool split_central_eir_found(const bt_addr_le_t *addr) {
     LOG_DBG("Found the split service");
 
+    // Reserve peripheral slot. Once the central has bonded to its peripherals,
+    // the peripheral MAC addresses will be validated internally and the slot
+    // reservation will fail if there is a mismatch.
+    int slot_idx = reserve_peripheral_slot(addr);
+    if (slot_idx < 0) {
+        LOG_INF("Unable to reserve peripheral slot (err %d)", slot_idx);
+        return false;
+    }
+    struct peripheral_slot *slot = &peripherals[slot_idx];
+
     // Stop scanning so we can connect to the peripheral device.
     int err = stop_scanning();
     if (err < 0) {
         return false;
     }
 
-    int slot_idx = reserve_peripheral_slot(addr);
-    if (slot_idx < 0) {
-        LOG_ERR("Failed to reserve peripheral slot (err %d)", slot_idx);
-        return false;
-    }
-
-    struct peripheral_slot *slot = &peripherals[slot_idx];
-
     LOG_DBG("Initiating new connnection");
     struct bt_le_conn_param *param =
         BT_LE_CONN_PARAM(CONFIG_ZMK_SPLIT_BLE_PREF_INT, CONFIG_ZMK_SPLIT_BLE_PREF_INT,