diff --git a/zebra/rt_netlink.c b/zebra/rt_netlink.c
index 4630b8a8e9..535acda304 100644
--- a/zebra/rt_netlink.c
+++ b/zebra/rt_netlink.c
@@ -93,7 +93,8 @@ static struct in_addr ipv4_ll;
 /* Helper to control use of kernel-level nexthop ids */
 static bool kernel_nexthops_supported(void)
 {
-	return (supports_nh && zebra_nhg_kernel_nexthops_enabled());
+	return (supports_nh && !vrf_is_backend_netns()
+		&& zebra_nhg_kernel_nexthops_enabled());
 }
 
 /*