diff --git a/src/core/thread/link_quality.cpp b/src/core/thread/link_quality.cpp
index 593fdb07f..36cf00a13 100644
--- a/src/core/thread/link_quality.cpp
+++ b/src/core/thread/link_quality.cpp
@@ -154,6 +154,8 @@ void LinkQualityInfo::AddRss(int8_t aNoiseFloor, int8_t aRss)
 {
     uint8_t oldLinkQuality = kNoLinkQuality;
 
+    VerifyOrExit(aRss != OT_RADIO_RSSI_INVALID);
+
     mLastRss = aRss;
 
     if (mRssAverager.HasAverage())