diff --git a/src/core/config/mle.h b/src/core/config/mle.h
index 7830f97f6..dc40a51fd 100644
--- a/src/core/config/mle.h
+++ b/src/core/config/mle.h
@@ -204,15 +204,6 @@
 #define OPENTHREAD_CONFIG_MLE_ATTACH_BACKOFF_DELAY_TO_RESET_BACKOFF_INTERVAL 20000
 #endif
 
-/**
- * @def OPENTHREAD_CONFIG_MLE_SEND_LINK_REQUEST_ON_ADV_TIMEOUT
- *
- * Define to 1 to send an MLE Link Request when MAX_NEIGHBOR_AGE is reached for a neighboring router.
- */
-#ifndef OPENTHREAD_CONFIG_MLE_SEND_LINK_REQUEST_ON_ADV_TIMEOUT
-#define OPENTHREAD_CONFIG_MLE_SEND_LINK_REQUEST_ON_ADV_TIMEOUT 1
-#endif
-
 /**
  * @def OPENTHREAD_CONFIG_MLE_LINK_REQUEST_MARGIN_MIN
  *
diff --git a/src/core/config/openthread-core-config-check.h b/src/core/config/openthread-core-config-check.h
index 896e58876..c27cb8a54 100644
--- a/src/core/config/openthread-core-config-check.h
+++ b/src/core/config/openthread-core-config-check.h
@@ -690,4 +690,8 @@
 #error "OPENTHREAD_CONFIG_BORDER_ROUTING_STUB_ROUTER_FLAG_IN_EMITTED_RA_ENABLE is removed"
 #endif
 
+#ifdef OPENTHREAD_CONFIG_MLE_SEND_LINK_REQUEST_ON_ADV_TIMEOUT
+#error "OPENTHREAD_CONFIG_MLE_SEND_LINK_REQUEST_ON_ADV_TIMEOUT is removed, behavior is always applied"
+#endif
+
 #endif // OPENTHREAD_CORE_CONFIG_CHECK_H_
diff --git a/src/core/thread/mle_router.cpp b/src/core/thread/mle_router.cpp
index 55e987663..970547cf2 100644
--- a/src/core/thread/mle_router.cpp
+++ b/src/core/thread/mle_router.cpp
@@ -1653,14 +1653,12 @@ void MleRouter::HandleTimeTick(void)
 
         if (router.IsStateValid() && (age >= kMaxNeighborAge))
         {
-#if OPENTHREAD_CONFIG_MLE_SEND_LINK_REQUEST_ON_ADV_TIMEOUT
             if (age < kMaxNeighborAge + kMaxTxCount * kUnicastRetxDelay)
             {
                 LogInfo("No Adv from router 0x%04x - sending Link Request", router.GetRloc16());
                 IgnoreError(SendLinkRequest(&router));
             }
             else
-#endif
             {
                 LogInfo("Router 0x%04x timeout expired", router.GetRloc16());
                 RemoveNeighbor(router);