diff --git a/net/core/neighbour.c b/net/core/neighbour.c
index 39d37d0ef575..116139233d57 100644
--- a/net/core/neighbour.c
+++ b/net/core/neighbour.c
@@ -1956,6 +1956,9 @@ static int neigh_add(struct sk_buff *skb, struct nlmsghdr *nlh,
 				   NEIGH_UPDATE_F_OVERRIDE_ISROUTER);
 	}
 
+	if (protocol)
+		neigh->protocol = protocol;
+
 	if (ndm->ndm_flags & NTF_EXT_LEARNED)
 		flags |= NEIGH_UPDATE_F_EXT_LEARNED;
 
@@ -1969,9 +1972,6 @@ static int neigh_add(struct sk_buff *skb, struct nlmsghdr *nlh,
 		err = __neigh_update(neigh, lladdr, ndm->ndm_state, flags,
 				     NETLINK_CB(skb).portid, extack);
 
-	if (protocol)
-		neigh->protocol = protocol;
-
 	neigh_release(neigh);
 
 out: