diff --git a/src/core/thread/network_data_leader_ftd.cpp b/src/core/thread/network_data_leader_ftd.cpp
index a3eb2aff3..9d6fea66f 100644
--- a/src/core/thread/network_data_leader_ftd.cpp
+++ b/src/core/thread/network_data_leader_ftd.cpp
@@ -152,6 +152,8 @@ void Leader::HandleServerData(Coap::Message &aMessage, const Ip6::MessageInfo &a
 
     otLogInfoNetData("Received network data registration");
 
+    VerifyOrExit(aMessageInfo.GetPeerAddr().IsRoutingLocator());
+
     if (ThreadTlv::GetTlv(aMessage, ThreadTlv::kRloc16, sizeof(rloc16), rloc16) == OT_ERROR_NONE)
     {
         VerifyOrExit(rloc16.IsValid());