diff --git a/src/core/meshcop/dataset_manager.cpp b/src/core/meshcop/dataset_manager.cpp
index a91d376e7..c1d871ccb 100644
--- a/src/core/meshcop/dataset_manager.cpp
+++ b/src/core/meshcop/dataset_manager.cpp
@@ -1043,6 +1043,7 @@ void PendingDatasetBase::ClearNetwork(void)
 {
     mNetwork.Clear();
     mDelayTimer.Stop();
+    DatasetManager::HandleNetworkUpdate();
 }
 
 void PendingDatasetBase::HandleDetach(void)
diff --git a/src/core/meshcop/dataset_manager.hpp b/src/core/meshcop/dataset_manager.hpp
index 4d3159c97..e5b8bf47f 100644
--- a/src/core/meshcop/dataset_manager.hpp
+++ b/src/core/meshcop/dataset_manager.hpp
@@ -440,7 +440,6 @@ protected:
     static void HandleDelayTimer(Timer &aTimer);
     void HandleDelayTimer(void);
     void StartDelayTimer(void);
-    void HandleNetworkUpdate(void);
 
     TimerMilli mDelayTimer;