diff --git a/components/esp_hal_pmu/esp32c5/include/hal/pau_ll.h b/components/esp_hal_pmu/esp32c5/include/hal/pau_ll.h
index 877bb992b46..f480d84fc9b 100644
--- a/components/esp_hal_pmu/esp32c5/include/hal/pau_ll.h
+++ b/components/esp_hal_pmu/esp32c5/include/hal/pau_ll.h
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 /*
- * SPDX-FileCopyrightText: 2023-2025 Espressif Systems (Shanghai) CO LTD
+ * SPDX-FileCopyrightText: 2023-2026 Espressif Systems (Shanghai) CO LTD
  *
  * SPDX-License-Identifier: Apache-2.0
  */
@@ -54,6 +54,31 @@ static inline void pau_ll_set_regdma_entry_link_backup_start_enable(pau_dev_t *d
     dev->regdma_conf.start = enable;
 }
 
+static inline void pau_ll_set_regdma_select_wifimac_link(pau_dev_t *dev)
+{
+    dev->regdma_conf.sel_mac = 1;
+}
+
+static inline void pau_ll_set_regdma_deselect_wifimac_link(pau_dev_t *dev)
+{
+    dev->regdma_conf.sel_mac = 0;
+}
+
+static inline void pau_ll_set_regdma_wifimac_link_backup_direction(pau_dev_t *dev, bool to_mem)
+{
+    dev->regdma_conf.to_mem_mac = to_mem ? 1 : 0;
+}
+
+static inline void pau_ll_set_regdma_wifimac_link_backup_start_enable(pau_dev_t *dev)
+{
+    dev->regdma_conf.start_mac = 1;
+}
+
+static inline void pau_ll_set_regdma_wifimac_link_backup_start_disable(pau_dev_t *dev)
+{
+    dev->regdma_conf.start_mac = 0;
+}
+
 static inline uint32_t pau_ll_get_regdma_current_link_addr(pau_dev_t *dev)
 {
     return dev->regdma_current_link_addr.val;
diff --git a/components/esp_hal_pmu/esp32c5/pau_hal.c b/components/esp_hal_pmu/esp32c5/pau_hal.c
index d0887f780ea..f627c746c34 100644
--- a/components/esp_hal_pmu/esp32c5/pau_hal.c
+++ b/components/esp_hal_pmu/esp32c5/pau_hal.c
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 /*
- * SPDX-FileCopyrightText: 2022-2025 Espressif Systems (Shanghai) CO LTD
+ * SPDX-FileCopyrightText: 2022-2026 Espressif Systems (Shanghai) CO LTD
  *
  * SPDX-License-Identifier: Apache-2.0
  */
@@ -32,6 +32,25 @@ void IRAM_ATTR pau_hal_stop_regdma_modem_link(pau_hal_context_t *hal)
     pau_ll_clear_regdma_backup_done_intr_state(hal->dev);
 }
 
+#if SOC_PM_PAU_REGDMA_MODEM_WIFIMAC_WORKAROUND
+void IRAM_ATTR pau_hal_start_regdma_wifimac_link(pau_hal_context_t *hal, bool backup_or_restore)
+{
+    pau_ll_clear_regdma_backup_done_intr_state(hal->dev);
+    pau_ll_set_regdma_select_wifimac_link(hal->dev);
+    pau_ll_set_regdma_wifimac_link_backup_direction(hal->dev, backup_or_restore);
+    pau_ll_set_regdma_wifimac_link_backup_start_enable(hal->dev);
+
+    while (!(pau_ll_get_regdma_intr_raw_signal(hal->dev) & PAU_DONE_INT_RAW));
+}
+
+void IRAM_ATTR pau_hal_stop_regdma_wifimac_link(pau_hal_context_t *hal)
+{
+    pau_ll_set_regdma_wifimac_link_backup_start_disable(hal->dev);
+    pau_ll_set_regdma_deselect_wifimac_link(hal->dev);
+    pau_ll_clear_regdma_backup_done_intr_state(hal->dev);
+}
+#endif
+
 void IRAM_ATTR pau_hal_start_regdma_extra_link(pau_hal_context_t *hal, bool backup_or_restore)
 {
     pau_ll_clear_regdma_backup_done_intr_state(hal->dev);
diff --git a/components/esp_hal_pmu/include/hal/pau_hal.h b/components/esp_hal_pmu/include/hal/pau_hal.h
index 522889a85b6..60b5c129599 100644
--- a/components/esp_hal_pmu/include/hal/pau_hal.h
+++ b/components/esp_hal_pmu/include/hal/pau_hal.h
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 /*
- * SPDX-FileCopyrightText: 2022-2024 Espressif Systems (Shanghai) CO LTD
+ * SPDX-FileCopyrightText: 2022-2026 Espressif Systems (Shanghai) CO LTD
  *
  * SPDX-License-Identifier: Apache-2.0
  */
@@ -61,6 +61,23 @@ void pau_hal_start_regdma_modem_link(pau_hal_context_t *hal, bool backup_or_rest
  * @param hal           regdma hal context
  */
 void pau_hal_stop_regdma_modem_link(pau_hal_context_t *hal);
+
+#if SOC_PM_PAU_REGDMA_MODEM_WIFIMAC_WORKAROUND
+/**
+ * @brief Start transmission on regdma WiFi MAC SEL link
+ *
+ * @param hal           regdma hal context
+ * @param backup_or_restore        false: restore, true: backup
+ */
+void pau_hal_start_regdma_wifimac_link(pau_hal_context_t *hal, bool backup_or_restore);
+
+/**
+ * @brief Stop transmission on regdma WiFi MAC SEL link
+ *
+ * @param hal           regdma hal context
+ */
+void pau_hal_stop_regdma_wifimac_link(pau_hal_context_t *hal);
+#endif
 #endif
 
 #if SOC_PM_RETENTION_SW_TRIGGER_REGDMA
diff --git a/components/esp_hw_support/include/esp_private/esp_pau.h b/components/esp_hw_support/include/esp_private/esp_pau.h
index f82d0f7dbbe..89b628affa9 100644
--- a/components/esp_hw_support/include/esp_private/esp_pau.h
+++ b/components/esp_hw_support/include/esp_private/esp_pau.h
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 /*
- * SPDX-FileCopyrightText: 2022-2024 Espressif Systems (Shanghai) CO LTD
+ * SPDX-FileCopyrightText: 2022-2026 Espressif Systems (Shanghai) CO LTD
  *
  * SPDX-License-Identifier: Apache-2.0
  */
@@ -41,6 +41,18 @@ void pau_regdma_trigger_modem_link_backup(void);
  * @brief Software trigger regdma to perform modem link restore
  */
 void pau_regdma_trigger_modem_link_restore(void);
+
+#if SOC_PM_PAU_REGDMA_MODEM_WIFIMAC_WORKAROUND
+/**
+ * @brief Software trigger REGDMA backup on WiFi MAC SEL link
+ */
+void pau_regdma_trigger_wifimac_link_backup(void);
+
+/**
+ * @brief Software trigger REGDMA restore on WiFi MAC SEL link
+ */
+void pau_regdma_trigger_wifimac_link_restore(void);
+#endif
 #endif
 
 #if SOC_PM_RETENTION_SW_TRIGGER_REGDMA
diff --git a/components/esp_hw_support/include/esp_private/sleep_modem.h b/components/esp_hw_support/include/esp_private/sleep_modem.h
index 5e6aa72fa3f..47ad7548e6e 100644
--- a/components/esp_hw_support/include/esp_private/sleep_modem.h
+++ b/components/esp_hw_support/include/esp_private/sleep_modem.h
@@ -83,8 +83,9 @@ void sleep_modem_mac_bb_power_up_prepare(void);
  * @brief The retention action in the modem state of WiFi PHY module
  *
  * @param restore  true for restore the PHY context, false for backup the PHY context
+ * @param wifimac_link_is_sel  true to trigger REGDMA via WiFi MAC link
  */
-void sleep_modem_wifi_do_phy_retention(bool restore);
+void sleep_modem_wifi_do_phy_retention(bool restore, bool wifimac_link_is_sel);
 
 /**
  * @brief Get WiFi modem state
diff --git a/components/esp_hw_support/include/esp_private/sleep_retention.h b/components/esp_hw_support/include/esp_private/sleep_retention.h
index 3b5671eb828..e10199af0b8 100644
--- a/components/esp_hw_support/include/esp_private/sleep_retention.h
+++ b/components/esp_hw_support/include/esp_private/sleep_retention.h
@@ -293,8 +293,10 @@ void sleep_retention_do_system_retention(bool backup_or_restore);
  *
  * @param backup_or_restore true for backup register context to memory
  *                          or false for restore to register from memory
+ * @param wifimac_link_is_sel true to use dedicated WiFi MAC link,
+ *                             false to use modem entry link
  */
-void sleep_retention_do_phy_retention(bool backup_or_restore);
+void sleep_retention_do_phy_retention(bool backup_or_restore, bool wifimac_link_is_sel);
 #endif /*SOC_PM_SUPPORT_PMU_MODEM_STATE */
 #endif // SOC_PAU_SUPPORTED
 
diff --git a/components/esp_hw_support/port/pau_regdma.c b/components/esp_hw_support/port/pau_regdma.c
index 03281ce7b76..ae1bf22f8c9 100644
--- a/components/esp_hw_support/port/pau_regdma.c
+++ b/components/esp_hw_support/port/pau_regdma.c
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 /*
- * SPDX-FileCopyrightText: 2022-2024 Espressif Systems (Shanghai) CO LTD
+ * SPDX-FileCopyrightText: 2022-2026 Espressif Systems (Shanghai) CO LTD
  *
  * SPDX-License-Identifier: Apache-2.0
  */
@@ -87,6 +87,20 @@ void IRAM_ATTR pau_regdma_trigger_modem_link_restore(void)
     pau_hal_start_regdma_modem_link(PAU_instance()->hal, false);
     pau_hal_stop_regdma_modem_link(PAU_instance()->hal);
 }
+
+#if SOC_PM_PAU_REGDMA_MODEM_WIFIMAC_WORKAROUND
+void IRAM_ATTR pau_regdma_trigger_wifimac_link_backup(void)
+{
+    pau_hal_start_regdma_wifimac_link(PAU_instance()->hal, true);
+    pau_hal_stop_regdma_wifimac_link(PAU_instance()->hal);
+}
+
+void IRAM_ATTR pau_regdma_trigger_wifimac_link_restore(void)
+{
+    pau_hal_start_regdma_wifimac_link(PAU_instance()->hal, false);
+    pau_hal_stop_regdma_wifimac_link(PAU_instance()->hal);
+}
+#endif
 #endif
 
 #if SOC_PM_RETENTION_SW_TRIGGER_REGDMA
diff --git a/components/esp_hw_support/sleep_modem.c b/components/esp_hw_support/sleep_modem.c
index 9bc27d130b3..1bffcf6129e 100644
--- a/components/esp_hw_support/sleep_modem.c
+++ b/components/esp_hw_support/sleep_modem.c
@@ -171,10 +171,10 @@ __attribute__((unused)) void sleep_modem_wifi_modem_state_deinit(void)
     }
 }
 
-void IRAM_ATTR sleep_modem_wifi_do_phy_retention(bool restore)
+void IRAM_ATTR sleep_modem_wifi_do_phy_retention(bool restore, bool wifimac_link_is_sel)
 {
     sleep_modem_state_phy_link_config(s_sleep_modem.wifi.phy_link, 1);
-    sleep_retention_do_phy_retention(!restore);
+    sleep_retention_do_phy_retention(!restore, wifimac_link_is_sel);
     sleep_modem_state_phy_link_config(s_sleep_modem.wifi.phy_link, 0);
     if (!restore) {
         s_sleep_modem.wifi.modem_state_phy_done = 1;
diff --git a/components/esp_hw_support/sleep_retention.c b/components/esp_hw_support/sleep_retention.c
index 73fbac4533c..eb4232a3e8b 100644
--- a/components/esp_hw_support/sleep_retention.c
+++ b/components/esp_hw_support/sleep_retention.c
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 /*
- * SPDX-FileCopyrightText: 2022-2025 Espressif Systems (Shanghai) CO LTD
+ * SPDX-FileCopyrightText: 2022-2026 Espressif Systems (Shanghai) CO LTD
  *
  * SPDX-License-Identifier: Apache-2.0
  */
@@ -1007,7 +1007,7 @@ void IRAM_ATTR sleep_retention_do_system_retention(bool backup_or_restore)
 #endif
 
 #if SOC_PM_SUPPORT_PMU_MODEM_STATE
-void IRAM_ATTR sleep_retention_do_phy_retention(bool backup_or_restore)
+void IRAM_ATTR sleep_retention_do_phy_retention(bool backup_or_restore, bool wifimac_link_is_sel)
 {
 /* since the PHY link and other module links are within the sleep-retention entry (4) context，
 *  add mutex protection to avoid data race.
@@ -1016,9 +1016,23 @@ void IRAM_ATTR sleep_retention_do_phy_retention(bool backup_or_restore)
     _lock_acquire_recursive(&s_retention.lock);
 #endif
     if (backup_or_restore) {
-        pau_regdma_trigger_modem_link_backup();
+#if SOC_PM_PAU_REGDMA_MODEM_WIFIMAC_WORKAROUND
+        if (wifimac_link_is_sel) {
+            pau_regdma_trigger_wifimac_link_backup();
+        } else
+#endif
+        {
+            pau_regdma_trigger_modem_link_backup();
+        }
     } else {
-        pau_regdma_trigger_modem_link_restore();
+#if SOC_PM_PAU_REGDMA_MODEM_WIFIMAC_WORKAROUND
+        if (wifimac_link_is_sel) {
+            pau_regdma_trigger_wifimac_link_restore();
+        } else
+#endif
+        {
+            pau_regdma_trigger_modem_link_restore();
+        }
     }
 #if SOC_PM_PAU_REGDMA_COMMON_PHY_LINK_ENTRY
     _lock_release_recursive(&s_retention.lock);
diff --git a/components/esp_phy/src/phy_init.c b/components/esp_phy/src/phy_init.c
index 50487e10227..ea990c6e857 100644
--- a/components/esp_phy/src/phy_init.c
+++ b/components/esp_phy/src/phy_init.c
@@ -23,6 +23,7 @@
 #include "esp_private/esp_sleep_internal.h"
 #include "esp_check.h"
 #include "sdkconfig.h"
+#include "soc/soc_caps.h"
 #include "freertos/FreeRTOS.h"
 #include "freertos/portmacro.h"
 #include "endian.h"
@@ -73,6 +74,9 @@ extern wifi_mac_time_update_cb_t s_wifi_mac_time_update_cb;
 #if SOC_PM_SUPPORT_PMU_MODEM_STATE && CONFIG_ESP_WIFI_ENHANCED_LIGHT_SLEEP
 extern void pm_mac_modem_clear_rf_power_state(void);
 extern bool pm_mac_modem_rf_already_enabled(void);
+#if SOC_PM_PAU_REGDMA_LINK_IDX_WIFIMAC
+extern bool pm_get_wifimac_regdma_link_selection(void);
+#endif
 #endif
 
 static const char* TAG = "phy_init";
@@ -341,9 +345,23 @@ void esp_phy_enable(esp_phy_modem_t modem)
             s_is_phy_calibrated = true;
         } else {
 #if SOC_PM_SUPPORT_PMU_MODEM_STATE && CONFIG_ESP_WIFI_ENHANCED_LIGHT_SLEEP
+            bool wifimac_link_is_sel = false;
             if (!pm_mac_modem_rf_already_enabled()) {
                 if (sleep_modem_wifi_modem_state_enabled() && sleep_modem_wifi_modem_link_done()) {
-                    sleep_modem_wifi_do_phy_retention(true);
+#if SOC_PM_PAU_REGDMA_LINK_IDX_WIFIMAC && SOC_PM_PAU_REGDMA_MODEM_WIFIMAC_WORKAROUND
+/*
+ * A race exists between SoC wakeup and modem state sleep. After modem initiates sleep,
+ * SoC may wake up before REGDMA completes RF close, leaving mac_modem_sleep_flag uncleared
+ * (it depends on regdma done). The stale flag can incorrectly trigger a sleep request
+ * on the next modem entry, causing abnormal sleep behavior.
+ *
+ * Therefore, this workaround ensures that mac_modem_sleep_flag is properly
+ * cleared by regdma closing RF with wifimac link.
+ * See WIFI-7246 for details.
+*/
+                wifimac_link_is_sel = pm_get_wifimac_regdma_link_selection();
+#endif
+                sleep_modem_wifi_do_phy_retention(true, wifimac_link_is_sel);
                 } else {
 // TODO: IDF-15338
 #if CONFIG_IDF_TARGET_ESP32C5
@@ -419,7 +437,11 @@ void esp_phy_disable(esp_phy_modem_t modem)
 #if SOC_PM_SUPPORT_PMU_MODEM_STATE && CONFIG_ESP_WIFI_ENHANCED_LIGHT_SLEEP
         pm_mac_modem_clear_rf_power_state();
         if (sleep_modem_wifi_modem_state_enabled()) {
-            sleep_modem_wifi_do_phy_retention(false);
+            bool wifimac_link_is_sel = false;
+#if SOC_PM_PAU_REGDMA_LINK_IDX_WIFIMAC && SOC_PM_PAU_REGDMA_MODEM_WIFIMAC_WORKAROUND
+            wifimac_link_is_sel = pm_get_wifimac_regdma_link_selection();
+#endif
+            sleep_modem_wifi_do_phy_retention(false, wifimac_link_is_sel);
         } else
 #endif /* SOC_PM_SUPPORT_PMU_MODEM_STATE && CONFIG_ESP_WIFI_ENHANCED_LIGHT_SLEEP */
         {
diff --git a/components/soc/esp32c5/include/soc/Kconfig.soc_caps.in b/components/soc/esp32c5/include/soc/Kconfig.soc_caps.in
index 66db189d042..ad3b3049ea6 100644
--- a/components/soc/esp32c5/include/soc/Kconfig.soc_caps.in
+++ b/components/soc/esp32c5/include/soc/Kconfig.soc_caps.in
@@ -1503,6 +1503,10 @@ config SOC_PM_PAU_REGDMA_COMMON_PHY_LINK_ENTRY
     bool
     default y
 
+config SOC_PM_PAU_REGDMA_MODEM_WIFIMAC_WORKAROUND
+    bool
+    default y
+
 config SOC_PM_PMU_MIN_SLP_SLOW_CLK_CYCLE_FIXED
     bool
     default y
diff --git a/components/soc/esp32c5/include/soc/soc_caps.h b/components/soc/esp32c5/include/soc/soc_caps.h
index 17264727814..7f321774f65 100644
--- a/components/soc/esp32c5/include/soc/soc_caps.h
+++ b/components/soc/esp32c5/include/soc/soc_caps.h
@@ -608,6 +608,8 @@
 #define SOC_PM_PAU_REGDMA_LINK_CONFIGURABLE (1)
 #define SOC_PM_PAU_REGDMA_LINK_IDX_WIFIMAC  (4) // The range of values for the link index is [0, SOC_PM_PAU_LINK_NUM)
 #define SOC_PM_PAU_REGDMA_COMMON_PHY_LINK_ENTRY (1)
+/** Workaround: software-triggered modem PHY retention uses dedicated WiFi MAC REGDMA, not entry link_sel */
+#define SOC_PM_PAU_REGDMA_MODEM_WIFIMAC_WORKAROUND (1)
 
 #define SOC_PM_PMU_MIN_SLP_SLOW_CLK_CYCLE_FIXED    (1)