diff --git a/src/core/meshcop/dataset_manager.cpp b/src/core/meshcop/dataset_manager.cpp
index 71efbd9d0..16c1eb41d 100644
--- a/src/core/meshcop/dataset_manager.cpp
+++ b/src/core/meshcop/dataset_manager.cpp
@@ -169,6 +169,7 @@ otError DatasetManager::Save(const Dataset &aDataset)
     }
     else if (compare < 0)
     {
+        VerifyOrExit(!Get<Mle::MleRouter>().IsLeader(), error = OT_ERROR_INVALID_STATE);
         SendSet();
     }