diff --git a/src/core/mac/mac.cpp b/src/core/mac/mac.cpp
index 2637c5c164e4..197a3d710e0a 100644
--- a/src/core/mac/mac.cpp
+++ b/src/core/mac/mac.cpp
@@ -2519,11 +2519,9 @@ Error Mac::SetWedListenEnabled(bool aEnable)
 
 void Mac::UpdateWakeupListening(void)
 {
-    uint32_t interval = mWedListenEnabled ? mWedListenInterval : 0;
-    uint16_t duration = mWedListenEnabled ? mWedListenDuration : 0;
-    uint8_t  channel  = mWakeupChannel ? mWakeupChannel : mPanChannel;
+    uint8_t channel = mWakeupChannel ? mWakeupChannel : mPanChannel;
 
-    mLinks.UpdateWakeupListening(interval, duration, channel);
+    mLinks.UpdateWakeupListening(mWedListenEnabled, mWedListenInterval, mWedListenDuration, channel);
 }
 
 Error Mac::HandleWakeupFrame(const RxFrame &aFrame)
diff --git a/src/core/mac/mac_links.hpp b/src/core/mac/mac_links.hpp
index 7ca0d9ff8ee1..d61195c7a122 100644
--- a/src/core/mac/mac_links.hpp
+++ b/src/core/mac/mac_links.hpp
@@ -477,17 +477,19 @@ class Links : public InstanceLocator
     /**
      * Configures wake-up listening parameters in all radios.
      *
+     * @param[in]  aEnable    Whether to enable or disable wake-up listening.
      * @param[in]  aInterval  The WED listen interval in microseconds.
      * @param[in]  aDuration  The WED listen duration in microseconds.
      * @param[in]  aChannel   The wake-up channel.
      */
-    void UpdateWakeupListening(uint32_t aInterval, uint16_t aDuration, uint8_t aChannel)
+    void UpdateWakeupListening(bool aEnable, uint32_t aInterval, uint16_t aDuration, uint8_t aChannel)
     {
+        OT_UNUSED_VARIABLE(aEnable);
         OT_UNUSED_VARIABLE(aInterval);
         OT_UNUSED_VARIABLE(aDuration);
         OT_UNUSED_VARIABLE(aChannel);
 #if OPENTHREAD_CONFIG_RADIO_LINK_IEEE_802_15_4_ENABLE
-        mSubMac.UpdateWakeupListening(aInterval, aDuration, aChannel);
+        mSubMac.UpdateWakeupListening(aEnable, aInterval, aDuration, aChannel);
 #endif
     }
 #endif
diff --git a/src/core/mac/sub_mac.hpp b/src/core/mac/sub_mac.hpp
index 586b4c1cb288..59214bb3fd14 100644
--- a/src/core/mac/sub_mac.hpp
+++ b/src/core/mac/sub_mac.hpp
@@ -484,11 +484,12 @@ class SubMac : public InstanceLocator, private NonCopyable
     /**
      * Configures wake-up listening parameters in all radios.
      *
+     * @param[in]  aEnable    Whether to enable or disable wake-up listening.
      * @param[in]  aInterval  The WED listen interval in microseconds.
      * @param[in]  aDuration  The WED listen duration in microseconds.
      * @param[in]  aChannel   The wake-up channel.
      */
-    void UpdateWakeupListening(uint32_t aInterval, uint16_t aDuration, uint8_t aChannel);
+    void UpdateWakeupListening(bool aEnable, uint32_t aInterval, uint16_t aDuration, uint8_t aChannel);
 #endif
 
 private:
diff --git a/src/core/mac/sub_mac_wed.cpp b/src/core/mac/sub_mac_wed.cpp
index 3a6b2cf9fd8b..ad1c4b4e1d34 100644
--- a/src/core/mac/sub_mac_wed.cpp
+++ b/src/core/mac/sub_mac_wed.cpp
@@ -48,17 +48,16 @@ void SubMac::WedInit(void)
     mWedTimer.Stop();
 }
 
-void SubMac::UpdateWakeupListening(uint32_t aInterval, uint16_t aDuration, uint8_t aChannel)
+void SubMac::UpdateWakeupListening(bool aEnable, uint32_t aInterval, uint16_t aDuration, uint8_t aChannel)
 {
     VerifyOrExit(RadioSupportsReceiveTiming());
-    VerifyOrExit(aInterval != mWedListenInterval || aDuration != mWedListenDuration || aChannel != mWakeupChannel);
 
     mWedListenInterval = aInterval;
     mWedListenDuration = aDuration;
     mWakeupChannel     = aChannel;
     mWedTimer.Stop();
 
-    if (mWedListenInterval > 0)
+    if (aEnable)
     {
         mWedSampleTime      = TimerMicro::GetNow() + kCslReceiveTimeAhead - mWedListenInterval;
         mWedSampleTimeRadio = otPlatRadioGetNow(&GetInstance()) + kCslReceiveTimeAhead - mWedListenInterval;