diff --git a/net/core/neighbour.c b/net/core/neighbour.c
index 277ed854aef1..6d2d557442dc 100644
--- a/net/core/neighbour.c
+++ b/net/core/neighbour.c
@@ -1245,13 +1245,14 @@ static int __neigh_update(struct neighbour *neigh, const u8 *lladdr,
 	old    = neigh->nud_state;
 	err    = -EPERM;
 
+	if (neigh->dead) {
+		NL_SET_ERR_MSG(extack, "Neighbor entry is now dead");
+		new = old;
+		goto out;
+	}
 	if (!(flags & NEIGH_UPDATE_F_ADMIN) &&
 	    (old & (NUD_NOARP | NUD_PERMANENT)))
 		goto out;
-	if (neigh->dead) {
-		NL_SET_ERR_MSG(extack, "Neighbor entry is now dead");
-		goto out;
-	}
 
 	ext_learn_change = neigh_update_ext_learned(neigh, flags, &notify);