diff --git a/net/mac80211/mesh_hwmp.c b/net/mac80211/mesh_hwmp.c
index c6395551f5df..54930b06c3a4 100644
--- a/net/mac80211/mesh_hwmp.c
+++ b/net/mac80211/mesh_hwmp.c
@@ -634,7 +634,7 @@ static void hwmp_preq_frame_process(struct ieee80211_sub_if_data *sdata,
 				mesh_path_add_gate(mpath);
 		}
 		rcu_read_unlock();
-	} else {
+	} else if (ifmsh->mshcfg.dot11MeshForwarding) {
 		rcu_read_lock();
 		mpath = mesh_path_lookup(sdata, target_addr);
 		if (mpath) {
@@ -652,6 +652,8 @@ static void hwmp_preq_frame_process(struct ieee80211_sub_if_data *sdata,
 			}
 		}
 		rcu_read_unlock();
+	} else {
+		forward = false;
 	}
 
 	if (reply) {
@@ -669,7 +671,7 @@ static void hwmp_preq_frame_process(struct ieee80211_sub_if_data *sdata,
 		}
 	}
 
-	if (forward && ifmsh->mshcfg.dot11MeshForwarding) {
+	if (forward) {
 		u32 preq_id;
 		u8 hopcount;