diff --git a/src/wifi/model/channel-access-manager.cc b/src/wifi/model/channel-access-manager.cc
index 7f24f719c..ce25de54e 100644
--- a/src/wifi/model/channel-access-manager.cc
+++ b/src/wifi/model/channel-access-manager.cc
@@ -199,7 +199,6 @@ ChannelAccessManager::ChannelAccessManager()
       m_lastTxEnd(0),
       m_lastSwitchingEnd(0),
       m_usingOtherEmlsrLink(false),
-      m_lastUsingOtherEmlsrLinkEnd(0),
       m_sleeping(false),
       m_off(false),
       m_linkId(0)
@@ -419,8 +418,8 @@ ChannelAccessManager::NeedBackoffUponAccess(Ptr<Txop> txop,
 {
     NS_LOG_FUNCTION(this << txop << hadFramesToTransmit << checkMediumBusy);
 
-    // No backoff needed if in sleep mode, off or when using another EMLSR link
-    if (m_sleeping || m_off || m_usingOtherEmlsrLink)
+    // No backoff needed if in sleep mode or off
+    if (m_sleeping || m_off)
     {
         return false;
     }
@@ -479,11 +478,6 @@ ChannelAccessManager::RequestAccess(Ptr<Txop> txop)
     {
         m_phy->NotifyChannelAccessRequested();
     }
-    if (m_usingOtherEmlsrLink)
-    {
-        NS_LOG_DEBUG("Channel access cannot be requested while using another EMLSR link");
-        return;
-    }
     // Deny access if in sleep mode or off
     if (m_sleeping || m_off)
     {
@@ -620,8 +614,6 @@ ChannelAccessManager::GetAccessGrantStart(bool ignoreNav) const
     Time ackTimeoutAccessStart = m_lastAckTimeoutEnd + sifs;
     Time ctsTimeoutAccessStart = m_lastCtsTimeoutEnd + sifs;
     Time switchingAccessStart = m_lastSwitchingEnd + sifs;
-    Time usingOtherEmlsrLinkAccessStart =
-        (m_usingOtherEmlsrLink ? Simulator::Now() : m_lastUsingOtherEmlsrLinkEnd) + sifs;
     Time accessGrantedStart;
     if (ignoreNav)
     {
@@ -630,7 +622,6 @@ ChannelAccessManager::GetAccessGrantStart(bool ignoreNav) const
                                        txAccessStart,
                                        ackTimeoutAccessStart,
                                        ctsTimeoutAccessStart,
-                                       usingOtherEmlsrLinkAccessStart,
                                        switchingAccessStart});
     }
     else
@@ -641,14 +632,9 @@ ChannelAccessManager::GetAccessGrantStart(bool ignoreNav) const
                                        navAccessStart,
                                        ackTimeoutAccessStart,
                                        ctsTimeoutAccessStart,
-                                       usingOtherEmlsrLinkAccessStart,
                                        switchingAccessStart});
     }
     std::stringstream ss;
-    if (m_usingOtherEmlsrLink)
-    {
-        ss << ", using other EMLSR link access start=" << usingOtherEmlsrLinkAccessStart;
-    }
     NS_LOG_INFO("access grant start=" << accessGrantedStart << ", rx access start=" << rxAccessStart
                                       << ", busy access start=" << busyAccessStart
                                       << ", tx access start=" << txAccessStart
@@ -1132,18 +1118,7 @@ void
 ChannelAccessManager::NotifyStartUsingOtherEmlsrLink()
 {
     NS_LOG_FUNCTION(this);
-    // update backoff if a PHY is operating on this link
-    if (m_phy)
-    {
-        UpdateBackoff();
-    }
-    // Cancel timeout
-    if (m_accessTimeout.IsRunning())
-    {
-        m_accessTimeout.Cancel();
-    }
     m_usingOtherEmlsrLink = true;
-    UpdateLastIdlePeriod();
 }
 
 void
@@ -1151,16 +1126,13 @@ ChannelAccessManager::NotifyStopUsingOtherEmlsrLink()
 {
     NS_LOG_FUNCTION(this);
     m_usingOtherEmlsrLink = false;
-    m_lastUsingOtherEmlsrLinkEnd = Simulator::Now();
-    DoRestartAccessTimeoutIfNeeded();
 }
 
 void
 ChannelAccessManager::UpdateLastIdlePeriod()
 {
     NS_LOG_FUNCTION(this);
-    Time idleStart =
-        std::max({m_lastTxEnd, m_lastRx.end, m_lastSwitchingEnd, m_lastUsingOtherEmlsrLinkEnd});
+    Time idleStart = std::max({m_lastTxEnd, m_lastRx.end, m_lastSwitchingEnd});
     Time now = Simulator::Now();
 
     if (idleStart >= now)
diff --git a/src/wifi/model/channel-access-manager.h b/src/wifi/model/channel-access-manager.h
index e3ff7c552..ba10e3dd8 100644
--- a/src/wifi/model/channel-access-manager.h
+++ b/src/wifi/model/channel-access-manager.h
@@ -33,6 +33,8 @@
 #include <unordered_map>
 #include <vector>
 
+class EmlsrUlTxopTest;
+
 namespace ns3
 {
 
@@ -58,6 +60,9 @@ class FrameExchangeManager;
  */
 class ChannelAccessManager : public Object
 {
+    /// Allow test cases to access private members
+    friend class ::EmlsrUlTxopTest;
+
   public:
     ChannelAccessManager();
     ~ChannelAccessManager() override;
@@ -444,15 +449,13 @@ class ChannelAccessManager : public Object
     std::vector<Time> m_lastPer20MHzBusyEnd; /**< the last busy end time per 20 MHz channel
                                                   (HE stations and channel width > 20 MHz only) */
     std::map<WifiChannelListType, Timespan>
-        m_lastIdle;                    //!< the last idle start and end time for each channel type
-    Time m_lastSwitchingEnd;           //!< the last switching end time
-    bool m_usingOtherEmlsrLink;        //!< whether another EMLSR link is being used
-    Time m_lastUsingOtherEmlsrLinkEnd; //!< the last time we were blocked because using another
-                                       //!< EMLSR link
-    bool m_sleeping;                   //!< flag whether it is in sleeping state
-    bool m_off;                        //!< flag whether it is in off state
-    Time m_eifsNoDifs;                 //!< EIFS no DIFS time
-    EventId m_accessTimeout;           //!< the access timeout ID
+        m_lastIdle;               //!< the last idle start and end time for each channel type
+    Time m_lastSwitchingEnd;      //!< the last switching end time
+    bool m_usingOtherEmlsrLink;   //!< whether another EMLSR link is being used
+    bool m_sleeping;              //!< flag whether it is in sleeping state
+    bool m_off;                   //!< flag whether it is in off state
+    Time m_eifsNoDifs;            //!< EIFS no DIFS time
+    EventId m_accessTimeout;      //!< the access timeout ID
     bool m_generateBackoffOnNoTx; //!< whether the backoff should be invoked when the AC gains the
                                   //!< right to start a TXOP but it does not transmit any frame
                                   //!< (e.g., due to constraints associated with EMLSR operations),
diff --git a/src/wifi/model/eht/eht-frame-exchange-manager.cc b/src/wifi/model/eht/eht-frame-exchange-manager.cc
index 87fe58641..dd42bdfda 100644
--- a/src/wifi/model/eht/eht-frame-exchange-manager.cc
+++ b/src/wifi/model/eht/eht-frame-exchange-manager.cc
@@ -179,8 +179,12 @@ EhtFrameExchangeManager::StartTransmission(Ptr<Txop> edca, uint16_t allowedWidth
     if (m_staMac && m_staMac->IsEmlsrLink(m_linkId))
     {
         // Cannot start a transmission on a link blocked because another EMLSR link is being used
-        NS_ASSERT_MSG(!UsingOtherEmlsrLink(),
-                      "StartTransmission called while another EMLSR link is being used");
+        if (UsingOtherEmlsrLink())
+        {
+            NS_LOG_DEBUG("StartTransmission called while another EMLSR link is being used");
+            NotifyChannelReleased(edca);
+            return false;
+        }
 
         auto emlsrManager = m_staMac->GetEmlsrManager();
 
diff --git a/src/wifi/test/wifi-emlsr-test.cc b/src/wifi/test/wifi-emlsr-test.cc
index 66b41598e..d190d17c0 100644
--- a/src/wifi/test/wifi-emlsr-test.cc
+++ b/src/wifi/test/wifi-emlsr-test.cc
@@ -2262,10 +2262,11 @@ EmlsrUlTxopTest::EmlsrUlTxopTest(const Params& params)
       m_emlsrEnabledTime(0),
       m_firstUlPktsGenTime(0),
       m_unblockMainPhyLinkDelay(MilliSeconds(20)),
+      m_checkBackoffStarted(false),
       m_countQoSframes(0),
       m_countBlockAck(0),
       m_countRtsframes(0),
-      m_backoffSlots(0)
+      m_genBackoffIfTxopWithoutTx(params.genBackoffIfTxopWithoutTx)
 {
     m_nEmlsrStations = 1;
     m_nNonEmlsrStations = 0;
@@ -2301,6 +2302,8 @@ EmlsrUlTxopTest::DoSetup()
     Config::SetDefault("ns3::EhtConfiguration::MediumSyncDuration",
                        TimeValue(m_mediumSyncDuration));
     Config::SetDefault("ns3::EhtConfiguration::MsdMaxNTxops", UintegerValue(m_msdMaxNTxops));
+    Config::SetDefault("ns3::ChannelAccessManager::GenerateBackoffIfTxopWithoutTx",
+                       BooleanValue(m_genBackoffIfTxopWithoutTx));
 
     EmlsrOperationsTestBase::DoSetup();
 
@@ -2341,6 +2344,40 @@ EmlsrUlTxopTest::BackoffGenerated(uint32_t backoff, uint8_t linkId)
 {
     NS_LOG_INFO("Backoff value " << backoff << " generated by EMLSR client on link " << +linkId
                                  << "\n");
+    if (linkId != m_mainPhyId)
+    {
+        return; // we are only interested in backoff on main PHY link
+    }
+
+    if (m_backoffEndTime)
+    {
+        if (m_checkBackoffStarted)
+        {
+            // another backoff value while checkBackoffStarted is true is generated only if
+            // GenerateBackoffIfTxopWithoutTx is true
+            NS_TEST_EXPECT_MSG_EQ(
+                m_genBackoffIfTxopWithoutTx,
+                true,
+                "Another backoff value should not be generated while the main PHY link is blocked");
+
+            NS_TEST_EXPECT_MSG_EQ(m_backoffEndTime.value(),
+                                  Simulator::Now(),
+                                  "Backoff generated at unexpected time");
+        }
+        else
+        {
+            // we are done checking the backoff
+            m_backoffEndTime.reset();
+        }
+    }
+
+    if (m_checkBackoffStarted)
+    {
+        m_backoffEndTime = Simulator::Now() +
+                           m_staMacs[0]->GetChannelAccessManager(linkId)->GetSifs() +
+                           (m_staMacs[0]->GetQosTxop(AC_BE)->GetAifsn(linkId) + backoff) *
+                               m_staMacs[0]->GetChannelAccessManager(linkId)->GetSlot();
+    }
 }
 
 void
@@ -2590,6 +2627,7 @@ EmlsrUlTxopTest::CheckBlockAck(const WifiConstPsduMap& psduMap,
             // this BlockAck has been sent on the non-EMLSR link, ignore it
             break;
         }
+        m_checkBackoffStarted = true;
         if (!m_nonEmlsrLink)
         {
             m_countBlockAck++; // if all EMLSR links, next case is already executed now
@@ -2610,6 +2648,7 @@ EmlsrUlTxopTest::CheckBlockAck(const WifiConstPsduMap& psduMap,
             // this BlockAck has been sent on the non-EMLSR link, ignore it
             break;
         }
+        m_checkBackoffStarted = true;
         // check MediumSyncDelay timer on the EMLSR client after receiving BlockAck
         Simulator::Schedule(txDuration + NanoSeconds(1), checkMediumSyncDelayTimerActive);
         break;
@@ -2628,10 +2667,17 @@ EmlsrUlTxopTest::CheckBlockAck(const WifiConstPsduMap& psduMap,
             m_lastMsdExpiryTime = Simulator::Now() +
                                   m_staMacs[0]->GetEmlsrManager()->GetMediumSyncDuration() -
                                   *elapsed;
-            NS_TEST_EXPECT_MSG_EQ(m_backoffSlots,
-                                  m_staMacs[0]->GetQosTxop(AC_BE)->GetBackoffSlots(1),
-                                  "Unexpected backoff slots after terminating the second frame "
-                                  "exchange on EMLSR links");
+        });
+
+        Simulator::Schedule(txDuration, [=, this]() {
+            m_checkBackoffStarted = false;
+            NS_TEST_ASSERT_MSG_EQ(m_backoffEndTime.has_value(),
+                                  true,
+                                  "Backoff end time should have been calculated");
+            // when this BlockAck is received, the TXOP ends and the main PHY link is unblocked,
+            // which causes a new backoff timer to be generated if the backoff timer is not
+            // already running
+            *m_backoffEndTime = Max(*m_backoffEndTime, Simulator::Now());
         });
 
         // make aux PHYs not capable of transmitting frames
@@ -2650,15 +2696,6 @@ EmlsrUlTxopTest::CheckRtsFrames(Ptr<const WifiMpdu> mpdu,
                                 const WifiTxVector& txVector,
                                 uint8_t linkId)
 {
-    if (linkId != m_mainPhyId && !m_firstUlPktsGenTime.IsZero())
-    {
-        // this is the RTS sent by the aux PHY to start an UL TXOP
-        Simulator::ScheduleNow([=, this]() {
-            // save the number of backoff slots on link 1
-            m_backoffSlots = m_staMacs[0]->GetQosTxop(AC_BE)->GetBackoffSlots(1);
-        });
-    }
-
     if (linkId != m_mainPhyId || m_firstUlPktsGenTime.IsZero())
     {
         // this function only considers RTS frames sent by the main PHY while the MediumSyncDelay
@@ -2735,9 +2772,10 @@ EmlsrUlTxopTest::CheckResults()
      *  ────────────────────────┬───┬┴───┴┬───┬───┬┴──┴─────────────────────────────────────────
      *                          │RTS│     │QoS│QoS│
      *                          └───┘     │ 6 │ 7 │
-     *                                    └───┴───┘                    MediumSyncDelay
-     *                    ┌──┐                                         timer expired ┌──┐
-     *  [link 1]          │BA│  │    backoff frozen   │                   │          │BA│
+     *                                    └───┴───┘
+     *                             gen backoff      gen backoff if     MediumSyncDelay
+     *                    ┌──┐    (also many times)  not running       timer expired ┌──┐
+     *  [link 1]          │BA│  │   if allowed        │                   │          │BA│
      *  ─────────┬───┬───┬┴──┴───────────────────────────┬───┬─────┬───┬────┬───┬───┬┴──┴───────
      *           │QoS│QoS│                               │RTS│ ... │RTS│    │QoS│QoS│
      *           │ 4 │ 5 │                               └───┘     └───┘    │ 8 │ 9 │
@@ -2763,9 +2801,9 @@ EmlsrUlTxopTest::CheckResults()
      *  ────────────────────────┬───┬┴───┴┬───┬───┬┴──┴─────────────────────────────────────────
      *                          │RTS│     │QoS│QoS│
      *                          └───┘     │ 8 │ 9 │
-     *                                    └───┴───┘                    MediumSyncDelay
-     *                    ┌──┐                                         timer expired ┌──┐
-     *  [link 1]          │BA│  │    backoff frozen   │                   │          │BA│
+     *                             gen backoff      gen backoff if     MediumSyncDelay
+     *                    ┌──┐    (also many times)  not running       timer expired ┌──┐
+     *  [link 1]          │BA│  │   if allowed        │                   │          │BA│
      *  ─────────┬───┬───┬┴──┴───────────────────────────┬───┬─────┬───┬────┬───┬───┬┴──┴───────
      *           │QoS│QoS│                               │RTS│ ... │RTS│    │QoS│QoS│
      *           │ 4 │ 5 │                               └───┘     └───┘    │ 10│ 11│
@@ -3299,8 +3337,15 @@ WifiEmlsrTestSuite::WifiEmlsrTestSuite()
                     TestCase::QUICK);
     }
 
-    AddTestCase(new EmlsrUlTxopTest({{0, 1, 2}, 40, 20, MicroSeconds(5504), 3}), TestCase::QUICK);
-    AddTestCase(new EmlsrUlTxopTest({{0, 1}, 40, 20, MicroSeconds(5504), 1}), TestCase::QUICK);
+    for (auto genBackoffIfTxopWithoutTx : {true, false})
+    {
+        AddTestCase(new EmlsrUlTxopTest(
+                        {{0, 1, 2}, 40, 20, MicroSeconds(5504), 3, genBackoffIfTxopWithoutTx}),
+                    TestCase::QUICK);
+        AddTestCase(
+            new EmlsrUlTxopTest({{0, 1}, 40, 20, MicroSeconds(5504), 1, genBackoffIfTxopWithoutTx}),
+            TestCase::QUICK);
+    }
 
     for (bool switchAuxPhy : {true, false})
     {
diff --git a/src/wifi/test/wifi-emlsr-test.h b/src/wifi/test/wifi-emlsr-test.h
index 999febf7c..c275d2506 100644
--- a/src/wifi/test/wifi-emlsr-test.h
+++ b/src/wifi/test/wifi-emlsr-test.h
@@ -488,10 +488,10 @@ class EmlsrDlTxopTest : public EmlsrOperationsTestBase
  *   of transmitting, we block transmissions on the link where the main PHY is operating and
  *   generate new UL packets, which will then be transmitted on a link where an aux PHY is
  *   operating. Thus, the aux PHY transmits an RTS frame and the main PHY will take over and
- *   transmit the second UL data frame. We check that the number of backoff slots on the link
- *   where the main PHY was operating (which is blocked because another EMLSR link is being used)
- *   at the end of the frame exchange on the other EMLSR link is the same as the one at the
- *   beginning of that frame exchange.
+ *   transmit the second UL data frame. We check that, while the link on which the main PHY was
+ *   operating is blocked because another EMLSR link is being used, new backoff values for that
+ *   link are generated if and only if the QosTxop::GenerateBackoffIfTxopWithoutTx attribute is
+ *   true; otherwise, a new backoff value is generated when the link is unblocked.
  * - When the exchange of the second UL data frame terminates, we make the aux PHY unable to
  *   transmit, block transmissions on the non-EMLSR link (if any) and generate some more UL
  *   packets, which will then be transmitted by the main PHY. However, a MediumSyncDelay timer
@@ -511,13 +511,16 @@ class EmlsrUlTxopTest : public EmlsrOperationsTestBase
     struct Params
     {
         std::set<uint8_t>
-            linksToEnableEmlsrOn;    //!< IDs of links on which EMLSR mode should be enabled
-        uint16_t channelWidth;       //!< width (MHz) of the channels used by MLDs
-        uint16_t auxPhyChannelWidth; //!< max width (MHz) supported by aux PHYs
-        Time mediumSyncDuration;     //!< duration of the MediumSyncDelay timer
-        uint8_t msdMaxNTxops;        //!< Max number of TXOPs that an EMLSR client is allowed
-                                     //!< to attempt to initiate while the MediumSyncDelay
-                                     //!< timer is running (zero indicates no limit)
+            linksToEnableEmlsrOn;       //!< IDs of links on which EMLSR mode should be enabled
+        uint16_t channelWidth;          //!< width (MHz) of the channels used by MLDs
+        uint16_t auxPhyChannelWidth;    //!< max width (MHz) supported by aux PHYs
+        Time mediumSyncDuration;        //!< duration of the MediumSyncDelay timer
+        uint8_t msdMaxNTxops;           //!< Max number of TXOPs that an EMLSR client is allowed
+                                        //!< to attempt to initiate while the MediumSyncDelay
+                                        //!< timer is running (zero indicates no limit)
+        bool genBackoffIfTxopWithoutTx; //!< whether the backoff should be invoked when the AC
+                                        //!< gains the right to start a TXOP but it does not
+                                        //!< transmit any frame
     };
 
     /**
@@ -601,13 +604,15 @@ class EmlsrUlTxopTest : public EmlsrOperationsTestBase
                                           //!< generated and the time transmissions are unblocked
                                           //!< on the link where the main PHY is operating on
     Time m_lastMsdExpiryTime;             //!< expiry time of the last MediumSyncDelay timer
+    bool m_checkBackoffStarted;           //!< whether we are checking the generated backoff values
+    std::optional<Time> m_backoffEndTime; //!< expected backoff end time on main PHY link
     Ptr<ListErrorModel> m_errorModel;     ///< error rate model to corrupt packets
     std::size_t m_countQoSframes;         //!< counter for QoS frames
     std::size_t m_countBlockAck;          //!< counter for BlockAck frames
     std::size_t m_countRtsframes;         //!< counter for RTS frames
-    uint32_t m_backoffSlots;              //!< backoff slots on the link where the main PHY is
-                                          //!< operating when an RTS is sent by the aux PHY to
-                                          //!< start an UL TXOP
+    bool m_genBackoffIfTxopWithoutTx;     //!< whether the backoff should be invoked when the AC
+                                          //!< gains the right to start a TXOP but it does not
+                                          //!< transmit any frame
 };
 
 /**