diff --git a/lib/libnetlink.c b/lib/libnetlink.c
index 0d48a3d4..6ae51a9d 100644
--- a/lib/libnetlink.c
+++ b/lib/libnetlink.c
@@ -1336,6 +1336,7 @@ struct rtattr *rta_nest(struct rtattr *rta, int maxlen, int type)
 	struct rtattr *nest = RTA_TAIL(rta);
 
 	rta_addattr_l(rta, maxlen, type, NULL, 0);
+	nest->rta_type |= NLA_F_NESTED;
 
 	return nest;
 }