diff --git a/zebra/zebra_rib.c b/zebra/zebra_rib.c
index e64a620f00..0521029e6c 100644
--- a/zebra/zebra_rib.c
+++ b/zebra/zebra_rib.c
@@ -1480,7 +1480,7 @@ static void rib_process(struct route_node *rn)
 		rib_process_update_fib(zvrf, rn, old_fib, new_fib);
 	else if (new_fib)
 		rib_process_add_fib(zvrf, rn, new_fib);
-	else if (old_fib)
+	else if (old_fib && !RIB_SYSTEM_ROUTE(old_fib))
 		rib_process_del_fib(zvrf, rn, old_fib);
 
 	/* Remove all RE entries queued for removal */