diff --git a/src/core/net/ip6.cpp b/src/core/net/ip6.cpp
index 9fbb7ba56..b8fd12ab6 100644
--- a/src/core/net/ip6.cpp
+++ b/src/core/net/ip6.cpp
@@ -884,7 +884,7 @@ void Ip6::UpdateReassemblyList(void)
         else
         {
             otLogNoteIp6("Reassembly timeout.");
-            IgnoreError(SendIcmpError(*message, IcmpHeader::kTypeTimeExceeded, IcmpHeader::kCodeFragmReasTimeEx));
+            SendIcmpError(*message, IcmpHeader::kTypeTimeExceeded, IcmpHeader::kCodeFragmReasTimeEx);
 
             IgnoreError(mReassemblyList.Dequeue(*message));
             message->Free();
@@ -892,7 +892,7 @@ void Ip6::UpdateReassemblyList(void)
     }
 }
 
-otError Ip6::SendIcmpError(Message &aMessage, IcmpHeader::Type aIcmpType, IcmpHeader::Code aIcmpCode)
+void Ip6::SendIcmpError(Message &aMessage, IcmpHeader::Type aIcmpType, IcmpHeader::Code aIcmpCode)
 {
     otError     error = OT_ERROR_NONE;
     Header      header;
@@ -905,10 +905,14 @@ otError Ip6::SendIcmpError(Message &aMessage, IcmpHeader::Type aIcmpType, IcmpHe
     messageInfo.SetHopLimit(header.GetHopLimit());
     messageInfo.SetLinkInfo(NULL);
 
-    SuccessOrExit(error = mIcmp.SendError(aIcmpType, aIcmpCode, messageInfo, aMessage));
+    error = mIcmp.SendError(aIcmpType, aIcmpCode, messageInfo, aMessage);
 
 exit:
-    return error;
+
+    if (error != OT_ERROR_NONE)
+    {
+        otLogWarnIp6("Failed to send ICMP error: %s", otThreadErrorToString(error));
+    }
 }
 
 #else
diff --git a/src/core/net/ip6.hpp b/src/core/net/ip6.hpp
index 05d7aeaee..701ece102 100644
--- a/src/core/net/ip6.hpp
+++ b/src/core/net/ip6.hpp
@@ -363,7 +363,7 @@ private:
     void        CleanupFragmentationBuffer(void);
     void        HandleUpdateTimer(void);
     void        UpdateReassemblyList(void);
-    otError     SendIcmpError(Message &aMessage, IcmpHeader::Type aIcmpType, IcmpHeader::Code aIcmpCode);
+    void        SendIcmpError(Message &aMessage, IcmpHeader::Type aIcmpType, IcmpHeader::Code aIcmpCode);
     static void HandleTimer(Timer &aTimer);
 #endif
     otError AddMplOption(Message &aMessage, Header &aHeader);