diff --git a/src/core/thread/mesh_forwarder.cpp b/src/core/thread/mesh_forwarder.cpp
index 5dd8af920..567d4eda3 100644
--- a/src/core/thread/mesh_forwarder.cpp
+++ b/src/core/thread/mesh_forwarder.cpp
@@ -1242,6 +1242,10 @@ void MeshForwarder::HandleFragment(const uint8_t *       aFrame,
     {
         uint16_t datagramSize = fragmentHeader.GetDatagramSize();
 
+#if OPENTHREAD_FTD
+        UpdateRoutes(aFrame, aFrameLength, aMacSource, aMacDest);
+#endif
+
         error = FrameToMessage(aFrame, aFrameLength, datagramSize, aMacSource, aMacDest, message);
         SuccessOrExit(error);