diff --git a/net/xfrm/xfrm_state.c b/net/xfrm/xfrm_state.c
index fdbd56ed4bd5..ba73014805a4 100644
--- a/net/xfrm/xfrm_state.c
+++ b/net/xfrm/xfrm_state.c
@@ -2611,9 +2611,6 @@ int __xfrm_init_state(struct xfrm_state *x, bool init_replay, bool offload)
 		if (inner_mode == NULL)
 			goto error;
 
-		if (!(inner_mode->flags & XFRM_MODE_FLAG_TUNNEL))
-			goto error;
-
 		x->inner_mode = *inner_mode;
 
 		if (x->props.family == AF_INET)