diff --git a/src/core/thread/mle_router.cpp b/src/core/thread/mle_router.cpp
index 4e42d6352..c3ffba3a2 100644
--- a/src/core/thread/mle_router.cpp
+++ b/src/core/thread/mle_router.cpp
@@ -125,11 +125,6 @@ void MleRouter::SetRouterRoleEnabled(bool aEnabled)
 
         break;
     }
-
-    if (IsRouterRoleEnabled() && IsAttached() && !mStateUpdateTimer.IsRunning())
-    {
-        mStateUpdateTimer.Start(kStateUpdatePeriod);
-    }
 }
 
 otError MleRouter::BecomeRouter(ThreadStatusTlv::Status aStatus)
@@ -1689,7 +1684,7 @@ void MleRouter::HandleStateUpdateTimer(void)
 {
     bool routerStateUpdate = false;
 
-    VerifyOrExit(IsRouterRoleEnabled());
+    VerifyOrExit(IsFullThreadDevice());
 
     mStateUpdateTimer.Start(kStateUpdatePeriod);