diff --git a/core/net/ipv6/uip-ds6-route.c b/core/net/ipv6/uip-ds6-route.c
index ecb7d354b..73a4ce9fa 100644
--- a/core/net/ipv6/uip-ds6-route.c
+++ b/core/net/ipv6/uip-ds6-route.c
@@ -269,9 +269,16 @@ uip_ds6_route_add(uip_ipaddr_t *ipaddr, uint8_t length,
      one first. */
   r = uip_ds6_route_lookup(ipaddr);
   if(r != NULL) {
+    uip_ipaddr_t *current_nexthop;
+    current_nexthop = uip_ds6_route_nexthop(r);
+    if(uip_ipaddr_cmp(nexthop, current_nexthop)) {
+      /* no need to update route - already correct! */
+      return r;
+    }
     PRINTF("uip_ds6_route_add: old route for ");
     PRINT6ADDR(ipaddr);
     PRINTF(" found, deleting it\n");
+
     uip_ds6_route_rm(r);
   }
   {