diff --git a/drivers/net/ethernet/mellanox/mlx5/core/en_tc.c b/drivers/net/ethernet/mellanox/mlx5/core/en_tc.c
index 46bef6a26a8c..c5282b6aba8b 100644
--- a/drivers/net/ethernet/mellanox/mlx5/core/en_tc.c
+++ b/drivers/net/ethernet/mellanox/mlx5/core/en_tc.c
@@ -663,6 +663,7 @@ static int mlx5e_route_lookup_ipv4(struct mlx5e_priv *priv,
 				   __be32 *saddr,
 				   int *out_ttl)
 {
+	struct mlx5_eswitch *esw = priv->mdev->priv.eswitch;
 	struct rtable *rt;
 	struct neighbour *n = NULL;
 	int ttl;
@@ -677,12 +678,11 @@ static int mlx5e_route_lookup_ipv4(struct mlx5e_priv *priv,
 #else
 	return -EOPNOTSUPP;
 #endif
-
-	if (!switchdev_port_same_parent_id(priv->netdev, rt->dst.dev)) {
-		pr_warn("%s: can't offload, devices not on same HW e-switch\n", __func__);
-		ip_rt_put(rt);
-		return -EOPNOTSUPP;
-	}
+	/* if the egress device isn't on the same HW e-switch, we use the uplink */
+	if (!switchdev_port_same_parent_id(priv->netdev, rt->dst.dev))
+		*out_dev = mlx5_eswitch_get_uplink_netdev(esw);
+	else
+		*out_dev = rt->dst.dev;
 
 	ttl = ip4_dst_hoplimit(&rt->dst);
 	n = dst_neigh_lookup(&rt->dst, &fl4->daddr);
@@ -693,7 +693,6 @@ static int mlx5e_route_lookup_ipv4(struct mlx5e_priv *priv,
 	*out_n = n;
 	*saddr = fl4->saddr;
 	*out_ttl = ttl;
-	*out_dev = rt->dst.dev;
 
 	return 0;
 }