diff --git a/monitor/att.c b/monitor/att.c
index 3e5d7f12d182..b3fb3ba6a0ad 100644
--- a/monitor/att.c
+++ b/monitor/att.c
@@ -506,6 +506,7 @@ static struct gatt_db *get_db(const struct l2cap_frame *frame, bool rsp)
 
 static struct gatt_db_attribute *insert_chrc(const struct l2cap_frame *frame,
 						uint16_t handle,
+						uint16_t value_handle,
 						bt_uuid_t *uuid, uint8_t prop,
 						bool rsp)
 {
@@ -515,8 +516,8 @@ static struct gatt_db_attribute *insert_chrc(const struct l2cap_frame *frame,
 	if (!db)
 		return NULL;
 
-	return gatt_db_insert_characteristic(db, handle, uuid, 0, prop, NULL,
-							NULL, NULL);
+	return gatt_db_insert_characteristic(db, handle, value_handle, uuid, 0,
+						prop, NULL, NULL, NULL);
 }
 
 static int bt_uuid_from_data(bt_uuid_t *uuid, const void *data, uint16_t size)
@@ -615,7 +616,7 @@ static void print_chrc(const struct l2cap_frame *frame)
 	print_uuid("    Value UUID", frame->data, frame->size);
 	bt_uuid_from_data(&uuid, frame->data, frame->size);
 
-	insert_chrc(frame, handle, &uuid, prop, true);
+	insert_chrc(frame, handle - 1, handle, &uuid, prop, true);
 }
 
 static void chrc_read(const struct l2cap_frame *frame)
diff --git a/src/gatt-database.c b/src/gatt-database.c
index 7221ffc87f0d..6c11027a79ed 100644
--- a/src/gatt-database.c
+++ b/src/gatt-database.c
@@ -3352,9 +3352,10 @@ static bool database_add_chrc(struct external_service *service,
 	}
 
 	chrc->attrib = gatt_db_service_insert_characteristic(service->attrib,
-						handle, &uuid, chrc->perm,
-						chrc->props, chrc_read_cb,
-						chrc_write_cb, chrc);
+						handle - 1, handle, &uuid,
+						chrc->perm, chrc->props,
+						chrc_read_cb, chrc_write_cb,
+						chrc);
 	if (!chrc->attrib) {
 		error("Failed to create characteristic entry in database");
 		return false;
diff --git a/src/settings.c b/src/settings.c
index 85534f2c7aca..033e9670ac40 100644
--- a/src/settings.c
+++ b/src/settings.c
@@ -125,7 +125,8 @@ static int load_chrc(struct gatt_db *db, char *handle, char *value,
 				handle_int, value_handle,
 				properties, val_len ? val_str : "", uuid_str);
 
-	att = gatt_db_service_insert_characteristic(service, value_handle,
+	att = gatt_db_service_insert_characteristic(service, handle_int,
+							value_handle,
 							&uuid, 0, properties,
 							NULL, NULL, NULL);
 	if (!att || gatt_db_attribute_get_handle(att) != value_handle)
diff --git a/src/shared/gatt-client.c b/src/shared/gatt-client.c
index 6340bcd8508e..dcf6f0211a67 100644
--- a/src/shared/gatt-client.c
+++ b/src/shared/gatt-client.c
@@ -735,6 +735,7 @@ static bool discover_descs(struct discovery_op *op, bool *discovering)
 		}
 
 		attr = gatt_db_insert_characteristic(client->db,
+							chrc_data->start_handle,
 							chrc_data->value_handle,
 							&chrc_data->uuid, 0,
 							chrc_data->properties,
@@ -829,6 +830,8 @@ done:
 	return true;
 
 failed:
+	DBG(client, "Failed to discover descriptors");
+
 	free(chrc_data);
 	return false;
 }
diff --git a/src/shared/gatt-db.c b/src/shared/gatt-db.c
index 9559583d11a7..2c8e7d31eda1 100644
--- a/src/shared/gatt-db.c
+++ b/src/shared/gatt-db.c
@@ -825,28 +825,45 @@ bool gatt_db_set_authorize(struct gatt_db *db, gatt_db_authorize_cb_t cb,
 	return true;
 }
 
-static uint16_t get_attribute_index(struct gatt_db_service *service,
+static uint16_t service_get_attribute_index(struct gatt_db_service *service,
+							uint16_t *handle,
 							int end_offset)
 {
 	int i = 0;
 
-	/* Here we look for first free attribute index with given offset */
-	while (i < (service->num_handles - end_offset) &&
+	if (!service || !service->attributes[0] || !handle)
+		return 0;
+
+	if (*handle) {
+		/* Check if handle is in within service range */
+		if (*handle < service->attributes[0]->handle)
+			return 0;
+
+		/* Return index based on given handle */
+		i = *handle - service->attributes[0]->handle;
+	} else {
+		/* Here we look for first free attribute index with given
+		 * offset.
+		 */
+		while (i < (service->num_handles - end_offset) &&
 						service->attributes[i])
-		i++;
+			i++;
+	}
 
-	return i == (service->num_handles - end_offset) ? 0 : i;
-}
+	if (i >= (service->num_handles - end_offset))
+		return 0;
 
-static uint16_t get_handle_at_index(struct gatt_db_service *service,
-								int index)
-{
-	return service->attributes[index]->handle;
+	/* Set handle based on the index */
+	if (!(*handle))
+		*handle = service->attributes[0]->handle + i;
+
+	return i;
 }
 
 static struct gatt_db_attribute *
 service_insert_characteristic(struct gatt_db_service *service,
 					uint16_t handle,
+					uint16_t value_handle,
 					const bt_uuid_t *uuid,
 					uint32_t permissions,
 					uint8_t properties,
@@ -854,6 +871,7 @@ service_insert_characteristic(struct gatt_db_service *service,
 					gatt_db_write_t write_func,
 					void *user_data)
 {
+	struct gatt_db_attribute **chrc;
 	uint8_t value[MAX_CHAR_DECL_VALUE_LEN];
 	uint16_t len = 0;
 	int i;
@@ -874,37 +892,48 @@ service_insert_characteristic(struct gatt_db_service *service,
 	if (handle == UINT16_MAX)
 		return NULL;
 
-	i = get_attribute_index(service, 1);
+	i = service_get_attribute_index(service, &handle, 1);
 	if (!i)
 		return NULL;
 
-	if (!handle)
-		handle = get_handle_at_index(service, i - 1) + 2;
-
 	value[0] = properties;
 	len += sizeof(properties);
 
 	/* We set handle of characteristic value, which will be added next */
-	put_le16(handle, &value[1]);
+	put_le16(value_handle, &value[1]);
 	len += sizeof(uint16_t);
 	len += uuid_to_le(uuid, &value[3]);
 
-	service->attributes[i] = new_attribute(service, handle - 1,
+	service->attributes[i] = new_attribute(service, handle,
 							&characteristic_uuid,
 							value, len);
 	if (!service->attributes[i])
 		return NULL;
 
-	set_attribute_data(service->attributes[i], NULL, NULL, BT_ATT_PERM_READ, NULL);
+	chrc = &service->attributes[i];
+	set_attribute_data(service->attributes[i], NULL, NULL, BT_ATT_PERM_READ,
+				NULL);
 
-	i++;
-
-	service->attributes[i] = new_attribute(service, handle, uuid, NULL, 0);
-	if (!service->attributes[i]) {
-		free(service->attributes[i - 1]);
+	i = service_get_attribute_index(service, &value_handle, 0);
+	if (!i) {
+		free(*chrc);
+		*chrc = NULL;
 		return NULL;
 	}
 
+	service->attributes[i] = new_attribute(service, value_handle, uuid,
+						NULL, 0);
+	if (!service->attributes[i]) {
+		free(*chrc);
+		*chrc = NULL;
+		return NULL;
+	}
+
+	/* Update handle of characteristic value_handle if it has changed */
+	put_le16(value_handle, &value[1]);
+	if (memcmp((*chrc)->value, value, len))
+		memcpy((*chrc)->value, value, len);
+
 	set_attribute_data(service->attributes[i], read_func, write_func,
 							permissions, user_data);
 
@@ -914,6 +943,7 @@ service_insert_characteristic(struct gatt_db_service *service,
 struct gatt_db_attribute *
 gatt_db_insert_characteristic(struct gatt_db *db,
 					uint16_t handle,
+					uint16_t value_handle,
 					const bt_uuid_t *uuid,
 					uint32_t permissions,
 					uint8_t properties,
@@ -927,7 +957,8 @@ gatt_db_insert_characteristic(struct gatt_db *db,
 	if (!attrib)
 		return NULL;
 
-	return service_insert_characteristic(attrib->service, handle, uuid,
+	return service_insert_characteristic(attrib->service, handle,
+						value_handle, uuid,
 						permissions, properties,
 						read_func, write_func,
 						user_data);
@@ -936,6 +967,7 @@ gatt_db_insert_characteristic(struct gatt_db *db,
 struct gatt_db_attribute *
 gatt_db_service_insert_characteristic(struct gatt_db_attribute *attrib,
 					uint16_t handle,
+					uint16_t value_handle,
 					const bt_uuid_t *uuid,
 					uint32_t permissions,
 					uint8_t properties,
@@ -946,7 +978,8 @@ gatt_db_service_insert_characteristic(struct gatt_db_attribute *attrib,
 	if (!attrib)
 		return NULL;
 
-	return service_insert_characteristic(attrib->service, handle, uuid,
+	return service_insert_characteristic(attrib->service, handle,
+						value_handle, uuid,
 						permissions, properties,
 						read_func, write_func,
 						user_data);
@@ -964,7 +997,7 @@ gatt_db_service_add_characteristic(struct gatt_db_attribute *attrib,
 	if (!attrib)
 		return NULL;
 
-	return service_insert_characteristic(attrib->service, 0, uuid,
+	return service_insert_characteristic(attrib->service, 0, 0, uuid,
 						permissions, properties,
 						read_func, write_func,
 						user_data);
@@ -981,17 +1014,10 @@ service_insert_descriptor(struct gatt_db_service *service,
 {
 	int i;
 
-	i = get_attribute_index(service, 0);
+	i = service_get_attribute_index(service, &handle, 0);
 	if (!i)
 		return NULL;
 
-	/* Check if handle is in within service range */
-	if (handle && handle <= service->attributes[0]->handle)
-		return NULL;
-
-	if (!handle)
-		handle = get_handle_at_index(service, i - 1) + 1;
-
 	service->attributes[i] = new_attribute(service, handle, uuid, NULL, 0);
 	if (!service->attributes[i])
 		return NULL;
@@ -1151,17 +1177,10 @@ service_insert_included(struct gatt_db_service *service, uint16_t handle,
 		len += include->value_len;
 	}
 
-	index = get_attribute_index(service, 0);
+	index = service_get_attribute_index(service, &handle, 0);
 	if (!index)
 		return NULL;
 
-	/* Check if handle is in within service range */
-	if (handle && handle <= service->attributes[0]->handle)
-		return NULL;
-
-	if (!handle)
-		handle = get_handle_at_index(service, index - 1) + 1;
-
 	service->attributes[index] = new_attribute(service, handle,
 							&included_service_uuid,
 							value, len);
diff --git a/src/shared/gatt-db.h b/src/shared/gatt-db.h
index fb939e40d40e..f7596e33529a 100644
--- a/src/shared/gatt-db.h
+++ b/src/shared/gatt-db.h
@@ -63,6 +63,7 @@ gatt_db_service_add_characteristic(struct gatt_db_attribute *attrib,
 struct gatt_db_attribute *
 gatt_db_service_insert_characteristic(struct gatt_db_attribute *attrib,
 					uint16_t handle,
+					uint16_t value_handle,
 					const bt_uuid_t *uuid,
 					uint32_t permissions,
 					uint8_t properties,
@@ -73,6 +74,7 @@ gatt_db_service_insert_characteristic(struct gatt_db_attribute *attrib,
 struct gatt_db_attribute *
 gatt_db_insert_characteristic(struct gatt_db *db,
 					uint16_t handle,
+					uint16_t value_handle,
 					const bt_uuid_t *uuid,
 					uint32_t permissions,
 					uint8_t properties,
diff --git a/unit/test-gatt.c b/unit/test-gatt.c
index 5e06d4ed4bf9..1613fbcb5f21 100644
--- a/unit/test-gatt.c
+++ b/unit/test-gatt.c
@@ -1237,6 +1237,7 @@ add_char_with_value(struct gatt_db_attribute *service_att, uint16_t handle,
 
 	if (handle)
 		attrib = gatt_db_service_insert_characteristic(service_att,
+								handle - 1,
 								handle, uuid,
 								att_permissions,
 								char_properties,
