diff --git a/net/netfilter/nf_tables_api.c b/net/netfilter/nf_tables_api.c
index ddeaa1990e1e..2e61aab6ed73 100644
--- a/net/netfilter/nf_tables_api.c
+++ b/net/netfilter/nf_tables_api.c
@@ -2667,21 +2667,14 @@ static int nf_tables_newrule(struct net *net, struct sock *nlsk,
 	}
 
 	if (nlh->nlmsg_flags & NLM_F_REPLACE) {
-		if (!nft_is_active_next(net, old_rule)) {
-			err = -ENOENT;
-			goto err2;
-		}
-		trans = nft_trans_rule_add(&ctx, NFT_MSG_DELRULE,
-					   old_rule);
+		trans = nft_trans_rule_add(&ctx, NFT_MSG_NEWRULE, rule);
 		if (trans == NULL) {
 			err = -ENOMEM;
 			goto err2;
 		}
-		nft_deactivate_next(net, old_rule);
-		chain->use--;
-
-		if (nft_trans_rule_add(&ctx, NFT_MSG_NEWRULE, rule) == NULL) {
-			err = -ENOMEM;
+		err = nft_delrule(&ctx, old_rule);
+		if (err < 0) {
+			nft_trans_destroy(trans);
 			goto err2;
 		}