diff --git a/nimble/host/services/gap/src/ble_svc_gap.c b/nimble/host/services/gap/src/ble_svc_gap.c
index 1749a2053..f43ec0674 100644
--- a/nimble/host/services/gap/src/ble_svc_gap.c
+++ b/nimble/host/services/gap/src/ble_svc_gap.c
@@ -528,10 +528,8 @@ ble_svc_gap_appearance_init(void)
         if (!ble_hs_gap_svc_ctx) {
             return BLE_HS_ENOMEM;
         }
+        ble_svc_gap_appearance = MYNEWT_VAL(BLE_SVC_GAP_APPEARANCE);
     }
-
-    ble_svc_gap_appearance = MYNEWT_VAL(BLE_SVC_GAP_APPEARANCE);
-
     return 0;
 }
 
@@ -542,6 +540,11 @@ ble_svc_gap_init_name(void)
         return BLE_HS_EINVAL;
     }
 
+    if (ble_hs_gap_svc_ctx->svc_gap_name != NULL) {
+        /* Device name is already initialized (either default or set at runtime) */
+        return 0;
+    }
+
     const char *default_name = MYNEWT_VAL(BLE_SVC_GAP_DEVICE_NAME);
     size_t len = strlen(default_name);