diff --git a/nhrpd/netlink_arp.c b/nhrpd/netlink_arp.c
index 2e22f8e247a7..a1db81296a68 100644
--- a/nhrpd/netlink_arp.c
+++ b/nhrpd/netlink_arp.c
@@ -192,7 +192,9 @@ int nhrp_neighbor_operation(ZAPI_CALLBACK_ARGS)
 	} else {
 		state = (cmd == ZEBRA_NHRP_NEIGH_ADDED) ? ndm_state
 			: ZEBRA_NEIGH_STATE_FAILED;
-		nhrp_cache_set_used(c, state == ZEBRA_NEIGH_STATE_REACHABLE);
+		if (ndm_state != ZEBRA_NEIGH_STATE_STALE)
+			nhrp_cache_set_used(c,
+					    state == ZEBRA_NEIGH_STATE_REACHABLE);
 	}
 	return 0;
 }