diff --git a/zebra/zebra_nhg.c b/zebra/zebra_nhg.c
index f3ccf83fbc..244bbc65e4 100644
--- a/zebra/zebra_nhg.c
+++ b/zebra/zebra_nhg.c
@@ -52,9 +52,10 @@ DEFINE_MTYPE_STATIC(ZEBRA, NHG_CTX, "Nexthop Group Context");
 /* id counter to keep in sync with kernel */
 uint32_t id_counter;
 
-/*  */
+/* Controlled through ui */
 static bool g_nexthops_enabled = true;
 static bool proto_nexthops_only;
+static bool use_recursive_backups = true;
 
 static struct nhg_hash_entry *depends_find(const struct nexthop *nh, afi_t afi,
 					   int type, bool from_dplane);
@@ -2088,10 +2089,12 @@ static int nexthop_active(afi_t afi, struct nexthop *nexthop,
 
 			/* Examine installed backup nexthops, if any. There
 			 * are only installed backups *if* there is a
-			 * dedicated fib list.
+			 * dedicated fib list. The UI can also control use
+			 * of backups for resolution.
 			 */
 			nhg = rib_get_fib_backup_nhg(match);
-			if (nhg == NULL || nhg->nexthop == NULL)
+			if (!use_recursive_backups ||
+			    nhg == NULL || nhg->nexthop == NULL)
 				goto done_with_match;
 
 			for (ALL_NEXTHOPS_PTR(nhg, newhop)) {
@@ -2834,6 +2837,17 @@ bool zebra_nhg_kernel_nexthops_enabled(void)
 	return g_nexthops_enabled;
 }
 
+/* Global control for use of activated backups for recursive resolution. */
+void zebra_nhg_set_recursive_use_backups(bool set)
+{
+	use_recursive_backups = set;
+}
+
+bool zebra_nhg_recursive_use_backups(void)
+{
+	return use_recursive_backups;
+}
+
 /*
  * Global control to only use kernel nexthops for protocol created NHGs.
  * There are some use cases where you may not want zebra to implicitly
diff --git a/zebra/zebra_nhg.h b/zebra/zebra_nhg.h
index 2de34fec68..38015bf557 100644
--- a/zebra/zebra_nhg.h
+++ b/zebra/zebra_nhg.h
@@ -212,6 +212,10 @@ bool zebra_nhg_kernel_nexthops_enabled(void);
 void zebra_nhg_set_proto_nexthops_only(bool set);
 bool zebra_nhg_proto_nexthops_only(void);
 
+/* Global control for use of activated backups for recursive resolution. */
+void zebra_nhg_set_recursive_use_backups(bool set);
+bool zebra_nhg_recursive_use_backups(void);
+
 /**
  * NHE abstracted tree functions.
  * Use these where possible instead of direct access.
diff --git a/zebra/zebra_vty.c b/zebra/zebra_vty.c
index f18d8fbb6d..3349c18204 100644
--- a/zebra/zebra_vty.c
+++ b/zebra/zebra_vty.c
@@ -1636,6 +1636,18 @@ DEFPY_HIDDEN(proto_nexthop_group_only, proto_nexthop_group_only_cmd,
 	return CMD_SUCCESS;
 }
 
+DEFPY_HIDDEN(backup_nexthop_recursive_use_enable,
+	     backup_nexthop_recursive_use_enable_cmd,
+	     "[no] zebra nexthop resolve-via-backup",
+	     NO_STR
+	     ZEBRA_STR
+	     "Nexthop configuration \n"
+	     "Configure use of backup nexthops in recursive resolution\n")
+{
+	zebra_nhg_set_recursive_use_backups(!no);
+	return CMD_SUCCESS;
+}
+
 DEFUN (no_ip_nht_default_route,
        no_ip_nht_default_route_cmd,
        "no ip nht resolve-via-default",
@@ -3619,6 +3631,9 @@ static int config_write_protocol(struct vty *vty)
 	if (zebra_nhg_proto_nexthops_only())
 		vty_out(vty, "zebra nexthop proto only\n");
 
+	if (!zebra_nhg_recursive_use_backups())
+		vty_out(vty, "no zebra nexthop resolve-via-backup\n");
+
 #ifdef HAVE_NETLINK
 	/* Include netlink info */
 	netlink_config_write_helper(vty);
@@ -4054,6 +4069,7 @@ void zebra_vty_init(void)
 	install_element(CONFIG_NODE, &no_zebra_packet_process_cmd);
 	install_element(CONFIG_NODE, &nexthop_group_use_enable_cmd);
 	install_element(CONFIG_NODE, &proto_nexthop_group_only_cmd);
+	install_element(CONFIG_NODE, &backup_nexthop_recursive_use_enable_cmd);
 
 	install_element(VIEW_NODE, &show_nexthop_group_cmd);
 	install_element(VIEW_NODE, &show_interface_nexthop_group_cmd);