diff --git a/src/network/networkd-address.c b/src/network/networkd-address.c
index 5c87a6c9c76..57a9ceb2298 100644
--- a/src/network/networkd-address.c
+++ b/src/network/networkd-address.c
@@ -1158,6 +1158,9 @@ static bool address_is_ready_to_configure(Link *link, const Address *address) {
         if (!link_is_ready_to_configure(link, false))
                 return false;
 
+        if (address_is_removing(address))
+                return false;
+
         if (!ipv4acd_bound(address))
                 return false;
 
diff --git a/src/network/networkd-util.h b/src/network/networkd-util.h
index f75fb1f8685..8ffe4b5b5be 100644
--- a/src/network/networkd-util.h
+++ b/src/network/networkd-util.h
@@ -70,7 +70,7 @@ int network_config_state_to_string_alloc(NetworkConfigState s, char **ret);
                                                                         \
                 t->state = (t->state & ~mask) | (value & mask);         \
         }                                                               \
-        static inline bool name##_exists(type *t) {                     \
+        static inline bool name##_exists(const type *t) {               \
                 assert(t);                                              \
                                                                         \
                 if ((t->state & (NETWORK_CONFIG_STATE_CONFIGURING |     \
@@ -90,7 +90,7 @@ int network_config_state_to_string_alloc(NetworkConfigState s, char **ret);
                                     NETWORK_CONFIG_STATE_REQUESTING,    \
                                     0);                                 \
         }                                                               \
-        static inline bool name##_is_requesting(type *t) {              \
+        static inline bool name##_is_requesting(const type *t) {        \
                 assert(t);                                              \
                 return FLAGS_SET(t->state, NETWORK_CONFIG_STATE_REQUESTING); \
         }                                                               \
@@ -115,7 +115,7 @@ int network_config_state_to_string_alloc(NetworkConfigState s, char **ret);
         static inline void name##_unmark(type *t) {                     \
                 name##_update_state(t, NETWORK_CONFIG_STATE_MARKED, 0); \
         }                                                               \
-        static inline bool name##_is_marked(type *t) {                  \
+        static inline bool name##_is_marked(const type *t) {            \
                 assert(t);                                              \
                 return FLAGS_SET(t->state, NETWORK_CONFIG_STATE_MARKED); \
         }                                                               \
@@ -125,6 +125,10 @@ int network_config_state_to_string_alloc(NetworkConfigState s, char **ret);
                                     NETWORK_CONFIG_STATE_REMOVING,      \
                                     NETWORK_CONFIG_STATE_REMOVING);     \
         }                                                               \
+        static inline bool name##_is_removing(const type *t) {          \
+                assert(t);                                              \
+                return FLAGS_SET(t->state, NETWORK_CONFIG_STATE_REMOVING); \
+        }                                                               \
         static inline void name##_enter_removed(type *t) {              \
                 name##_update_state(t,                                  \
                                     NETWORK_CONFIG_STATE_CONFIGURED |   \
diff --git a/test/test-network/conf/25-route-preferred-source.network b/test/test-network/conf/25-route-preferred-source.network
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..5a55460349b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/test-network/conf/25-route-preferred-source.network
@@ -0,0 +1,12 @@
+# SPDX-License-Identifier: LGPL-2.1-or-later
+[Match]
+Name=dummy98
+
+[Network]
+Address=2001:1234:56:8f63::1/64
+IPv6AcceptRA=no
+
+[Route]
+Destination=abcd::/16
+Gateway=2001:1234:56:8f63::1:1
+PreferredSource=2001:1234:56:8f63::1
diff --git a/test/test-network/systemd-networkd-tests.py b/test/test-network/systemd-networkd-tests.py
index 9f55456fa4b..902614712e8 100755
--- a/test/test-network/systemd-networkd-tests.py
+++ b/test/test-network/systemd-networkd-tests.py
@@ -2973,9 +2973,22 @@ class NetworkdNetworkTests(unittest.TestCase, Utilities):
 
         output = check_output('ip -6 route list dev bond199')
         print(output)
-        self.assertRegex(output, 'abcd::/16')
-        self.assertRegex(output, 'src')
-        self.assertRegex(output, '2001:1234:56:8f63::2')
+        self.assertIn('abcd::/16 via 2001:1234:56:8f63::1:1 proto static src 2001:1234:56:8f63::2', output)
+
+    def test_route_preferred_source_with_existing_address(self):
+        # See issue #28009.
+        copy_network_unit('25-route-preferred-source.network', '12-dummy.netdev')
+        start_networkd()
+
+        for i in range(3):
+            if i != 0:
+                networkctl_reconfigure('dummy98')
+
+            self.wait_online(['dummy98:routable'])
+
+            output = check_output('ip -6 route list dev dummy98')
+            print(output)
+            self.assertIn('abcd::/16 via 2001:1234:56:8f63::1:1 proto static src 2001:1234:56:8f63::1', output)
 
     def test_ip_link_mac_address(self):
         copy_network_unit('25-address-link-section.network', '12-dummy.netdev')