diff --git a/net/batman-adv/hard-interface.c b/net/batman-adv/hard-interface.c
index 64cf9cd3be4d..eaf0a483211a 100644
--- a/net/batman-adv/hard-interface.c
+++ b/net/batman-adv/hard-interface.c
@@ -163,13 +163,15 @@ static bool batadv_is_on_batman_iface(const struct net_device *net_dev)
 		return true;
 
 	iflink = dev_get_iflink(net_dev);
-
-	/* no more parents..stop recursion */
-	if (iflink == 0 || iflink == net_dev->ifindex)
+	if (iflink == 0)
 		return false;
 
 	parent_net = batadv_getlink_net(net_dev, net);
 
+	/* iflink to itself, most likely physical device */
+	if (net == parent_net && iflink == net_dev->ifindex)
+		return false;
+
 	/* recurse over the parent device */
 	parent_dev = __dev_get_by_index((struct net *)parent_net, iflink);
 	/* if we got a NULL parent_dev there is something broken.. */