diff --git a/examples/bluetooth/hci/controller_hci_uart_esp32c3/main/uhci_uart_demo.c b/examples/bluetooth/hci/controller_hci_uart_esp32c3/main/uhci_uart_demo.c
index 79baa1f166..77306f0e48 100644
--- a/examples/bluetooth/hci/controller_hci_uart_esp32c3/main/uhci_uart_demo.c
+++ b/examples/bluetooth/hci/controller_hci_uart_esp32c3/main/uhci_uart_demo.c
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@
 #include "soc/lldesc.h"
 #include "esp_private/gdma.h"
 #include "hal/uhci_ll.h"
+#include "nvs_flash.h"
 #include "esp_bt.h"
 #include "esp_log.h"
 
@@ -255,6 +256,14 @@ void app_main(void)
 {
     esp_err_t ret;
 
+    /* Initialize NVS — it is used to store PHY calibration data */
+    ret = nvs_flash_init();
+    if (ret == ESP_ERR_NVS_NO_FREE_PAGES || ret == ESP_ERR_NVS_NEW_VERSION_FOUND) {
+        ESP_ERROR_CHECK(nvs_flash_erase());
+        ret = nvs_flash_init();
+    }
+    ESP_ERROR_CHECK( ret );
+
     uhci_uart_install();
 
     esp_bt_controller_config_t bt_cfg = BT_CONTROLLER_INIT_CONFIG_DEFAULT();