diff --git a/src/network/networkd-link.c b/src/network/networkd-link.c
index 60ac980ad9..8b7d122d2d 100644
--- a/src/network/networkd-link.c
+++ b/src/network/networkd-link.c
@@ -849,6 +849,8 @@ static int link_enter_set_routes(Link *link) {
         assert(link->network);
         assert(link->state == LINK_STATE_SETTING_ADDRESSES);
 
+        (void) link_set_routing_policy_rule(link);
+
         link_set_state(link, LINK_STATE_SETTING_ROUTES);
 
         LIST_FOREACH(routes, rt, link->network->static_routes) {
@@ -862,8 +864,6 @@ static int link_enter_set_routes(Link *link) {
                 link->route_messages++;
         }
 
-        (void) link_set_routing_policy_rule(link);
-
         if (link->route_messages == 0) {
                 link->static_routes_configured = true;
                 link_check_ready(link);