diff --git a/sys/net/gnrc/network_layer/ipv6/nib/_nib-6lr.c b/sys/net/gnrc/network_layer/ipv6/nib/_nib-6lr.c
index 8a7614f3709c3eee09fd6e2f80daf43fb89c9cf0..b85ed575589e814f76be022e4e413faa33c1c824 100644
--- a/sys/net/gnrc/network_layer/ipv6/nib/_nib-6lr.c
+++ b/sys/net/gnrc/network_layer/ipv6/nib/_nib-6lr.c
@@ -68,7 +68,7 @@ uint8_t _reg_addr_upstream(kernel_pid_t iface, const ipv6_hdr_t *ipv6,
 #endif
             if (byteorder_ntohs(aro->ltime) != 0) {
                 _handle_sl2ao(iface, ipv6, icmpv6, sl2ao);
-                _update_nce_ar_state(aro, nce);
+                return _update_nce_ar_state(aro, nce);
             }
             else if (nce != NULL) {
                 _nib_nc_remove(nce);