diff --git a/babeld/route.c b/babeld/route.c
index 2c7e923748..466f41383c 100644
--- a/babeld/route.c
+++ b/babeld/route.c
@@ -352,7 +352,7 @@ route_stream_done(struct route_stream *stream)
 static int
 metric_to_kernel(int metric)
 {
-    return metric < INFINITY ? kernel_metric : KERNEL_INFINITY;
+	return metric < INFINITY ? metric : KERNEL_INFINITY;
 }
 
 /* This is used to maintain the invariant that the installed route is at