diff --git a/src/core/thread/mle_router.cpp b/src/core/thread/mle_router.cpp
index 020e2315b..0eff1749e 100644
--- a/src/core/thread/mle_router.cpp
+++ b/src/core/thread/mle_router.cpp
@@ -581,7 +581,7 @@ otError MleRouter::HandleLinkRequest(const Message &aMessage, const Ip6::Message
 
     // Version
     SuccessOrExit(error = Tlv::GetTlv(aMessage, Tlv::kVersion, sizeof(version), version));
-    VerifyOrExit(version.IsValid() && version.GetVersion() >= kThreadVersion, error = OT_ERROR_PARSE);
+    VerifyOrExit(version.IsValid(), error = OT_ERROR_PARSE);
 
     // Leader Data
     if (Tlv::GetTlv(aMessage, Tlv::kLeaderData, sizeof(leaderData), leaderData) == OT_ERROR_NONE)
@@ -1596,7 +1596,7 @@ otError MleRouter::HandleParentRequest(const Message &aMessage, const Ip6::Messa
 
     // Version
     SuccessOrExit(error = Tlv::GetTlv(aMessage, Tlv::kVersion, sizeof(version), version));
-    VerifyOrExit(version.IsValid() && version.GetVersion() >= kThreadVersion, error = OT_ERROR_PARSE);
+    VerifyOrExit(version.IsValid(), error = OT_ERROR_PARSE);
 
     // Scan Mask
     SuccessOrExit(error = Tlv::GetTlv(aMessage, Tlv::kScanMask, sizeof(scanMask), scanMask));