diff --git a/examples/openthread/ot_common_components/ot_examples_common/include/ot_examples_common.h b/examples/openthread/ot_common_components/ot_examples_common/include/ot_examples_common.h
index 0c5c298c09..33c9f075db 100644
--- a/examples/openthread/ot_common_components/ot_examples_common/include/ot_examples_common.h
+++ b/examples/openthread/ot_common_components/ot_examples_common/include/ot_examples_common.h
@@ -56,6 +56,12 @@ void ot_external_coexist_init(void);
  */
 void ot_console_start(void);
 
+/**
+ * @brief   De-initializes the console.
+ *
+ */
+void ot_console_stop(void);
+
 /**
  * @brief   Form or join the Thread network automatically.
  *
diff --git a/examples/openthread/ot_common_components/ot_examples_common/ot_console.c b/examples/openthread/ot_common_components/ot_examples_common/ot_console.c
index 6c679941d3..fac7e75b27 100644
--- a/examples/openthread/ot_common_components/ot_examples_common/ot_console.c
+++ b/examples/openthread/ot_common_components/ot_examples_common/ot_console.c
@@ -22,9 +22,10 @@
 #include "iperf_cmd.h"
 #endif
 
+static esp_console_repl_t *repl = NULL;
+
 void ot_console_start(void)
 {
-    esp_console_repl_t *repl = NULL;
     esp_console_repl_config_t repl_config = ESP_CONSOLE_REPL_CONFIG_DEFAULT();
     /* Prompt to be printed before each line.
      * This can be customized, made dynamic, etc.
@@ -39,7 +40,6 @@ void ot_console_start(void)
 #elif defined(CONFIG_ESP_CONSOLE_USB_CDC)
     esp_console_dev_usb_cdc_config_t hw_config = ESP_CONSOLE_DEV_CDC_CONFIG_DEFAULT();
     ESP_ERROR_CHECK(esp_console_new_repl_usb_cdc(&hw_config, &repl_config, &repl));
-
 #elif defined(CONFIG_ESP_CONSOLE_USB_SERIAL_JTAG)
     esp_console_dev_usb_serial_jtag_config_t hw_config = ESP_CONSOLE_DEV_USB_SERIAL_JTAG_CONFIG_DEFAULT();
     ESP_ERROR_CHECK(esp_console_new_repl_usb_serial_jtag(&hw_config, &repl_config, &repl));
@@ -49,6 +49,11 @@ void ot_console_start(void)
     ESP_ERROR_CHECK(esp_console_start_repl(repl));
 }
 
+void ot_console_stop(void)
+{
+    ESP_ERROR_CHECK(esp_console_stop_repl(repl)); // this does esp_console_repl_usb_serial_xxxx_delete
+}
+
 void ot_register_external_commands(void)
 {
     register_system();