diff --git a/src/core/thread/panid_query_server.cpp b/src/core/thread/panid_query_server.cpp
index fc42f77c0..8e54923b9 100644
--- a/src/core/thread/panid_query_server.cpp
+++ b/src/core/thread/panid_query_server.cpp
@@ -104,11 +104,11 @@ void PanIdQueryServer::HandleScanResult(Mac::ActiveScanResult *aScanResult)
     }
     else if (mChannelMask != 0)
     {
-        IgnoreError(SendConflict());
+        SendConflict();
     }
 }
 
-otError PanIdQueryServer::SendConflict(void)
+void PanIdQueryServer::SendConflict(void)
 {
     otError                 error = OT_ERROR_NONE;
     MeshCoP::ChannelMaskTlv channelMask;
@@ -135,12 +135,15 @@ otError PanIdQueryServer::SendConflict(void)
 
 exit:
 
-    if (error != OT_ERROR_NONE && message != NULL)
+    if (error != OT_ERROR_NONE)
     {
-        message->Free();
-    }
+        otLogWarnMeshCoP("Failed to send panid conflict: %s", otThreadErrorToString(error));
 
-    return error;
+        if (message != NULL)
+        {
+            message->Free();
+        }
+    }
 }
 
 void PanIdQueryServer::HandleTimer(Timer &aTimer)
diff --git a/src/core/thread/panid_query_server.hpp b/src/core/thread/panid_query_server.hpp
index 01b93a1ea..78050388f 100644
--- a/src/core/thread/panid_query_server.hpp
+++ b/src/core/thread/panid_query_server.hpp
@@ -75,7 +75,7 @@ private:
 
     static void HandleUdpReceive(void *aContext, otMessage *aMessage, const otMessageInfo *aMessageInfo);
 
-    otError SendConflict(void);
+    void SendConflict(void);
 
     Ip6::Address mCommissioner;
     uint32_t     mChannelMask;