diff --git a/tools/mesh-cfgclient.c b/tools/mesh-cfgclient.c
index 6db65cd..d7318ff 100644
--- a/tools/mesh-cfgclient.c
+++ b/tools/mesh-cfgclient.c
@@ -944,7 +944,7 @@ static void subnet_set_phase_reply(struct l_dbus_proxy *proxy,
 	if (phase == KEY_REFRESH_PHASE_THREE)
 		phase = KEY_REFRESH_PHASE_NONE;
 
-	keys_set_net_key_phase(net_idx, phase);
+	keys_set_net_key_phase(net_idx, phase, true);
 }
 
 static void subnet_set_phase_setup(struct l_dbus_message *msg, void *user_data)
@@ -1014,7 +1014,7 @@ static void mgr_key_reply(struct l_dbus_proxy *proxy,
 		keys_del_net_key(idx);
 		mesh_db_net_key_del(idx);
 	} else if (!strcmp("UpdateSubnet", method)) {
-		keys_set_net_key_phase(idx, KEY_REFRESH_PHASE_ONE);
+		keys_set_net_key_phase(idx, KEY_REFRESH_PHASE_ONE, true);
 	} else if (!strcmp("DeleteAppKey", method)) {
 		keys_del_app_key(idx);
 		mesh_db_app_key_del(idx);
diff --git a/tools/mesh/keys.c b/tools/mesh/keys.c
index b7d3659..ff3b23f 100644
--- a/tools/mesh/keys.c
+++ b/tools/mesh/keys.c
@@ -99,7 +99,7 @@ void keys_del_net_key(uint16_t idx)
 	l_free(key);
 }
 
-void keys_set_net_key_phase(uint16_t net_idx, uint8_t phase)
+void keys_set_net_key_phase(uint16_t net_idx, uint8_t phase, bool save)
 {
 	struct net_key *key;
 
@@ -112,7 +112,7 @@ void keys_set_net_key_phase(uint16_t net_idx, uint8_t phase)
 
 	key->phase = phase;
 
-	if (!mesh_db_net_key_phase_set(net_idx, phase))
+	if (save && !mesh_db_net_key_phase_set(net_idx, phase))
 		bt_shell_printf("Failed to save updated KR phase\n");
 }
 
diff --git a/tools/mesh/keys.h b/tools/mesh/keys.h
index 3a90fa1..fa51044 100644
--- a/tools/mesh/keys.h
+++ b/tools/mesh/keys.h
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@
 
 void keys_add_net_key(uint16_t net_idx);
 void keys_del_net_key(uint16_t net_idx);
-void keys_set_net_key_phase(uint16_t net_idx, uint8_t phase);
+void keys_set_net_key_phase(uint16_t net_idx, uint8_t phase, bool save);
 bool keys_get_net_key_phase(uint16_t net_idx, uint8_t *phase);
 void keys_add_app_key(uint16_t net_idx, uint16_t app_idx);
 void keys_del_app_key(uint16_t app_idx);
diff --git a/tools/mesh/mesh-db.c b/tools/mesh/mesh-db.c
index 3bd6b0d..d39435c 100644
--- a/tools/mesh/mesh-db.c
+++ b/tools/mesh/mesh-db.c
@@ -607,7 +607,7 @@ static bool load_keys(json_object *jobj)
 		if (!get_int(jentry, "phase", &phase))
 			return false;
 
-		keys_set_net_key_phase(net_idx, (uint8_t) phase);
+		keys_set_net_key_phase(net_idx, (uint8_t) phase, false);
 	}
 
 	json_object_object_get_ex(jobj, "appKeys", &jarray);