diff --git a/bgpd/bgp_nht.c b/bgpd/bgp_nht.c
index b5d830e..7808505 100644
--- a/bgpd/bgp_nht.c
+++ b/bgpd/bgp_nht.c
@@ -194,7 +194,8 @@
   else if (peer)
     bnc->nht_info = (void *)peer; /* NHT peer reference */
 
-  return (CHECK_FLAG(bnc->flags, BGP_NEXTHOP_VALID));
+  return (bgp_zebra_num_connects() == 0 ||
+          CHECK_FLAG(bnc->flags, BGP_NEXTHOP_VALID));
 }
 
 void