diff --git a/src/core/thread/mle.cpp b/src/core/thread/mle.cpp
index 0b90a4dac..cbaa0391c 100644
--- a/src/core/thread/mle.cpp
+++ b/src/core/thread/mle.cpp
@@ -1604,7 +1604,7 @@ void Mle::HandleUdpReceive(Message &aMessage, const Ip6::MessageInfo &aMessageIn
         ExitNow();
     }
 
-    VerifyOrExit(!IsDisabled(), error = kErrorInvalidState);
+    VerifyOrExit(!IsDisabled());
     VerifyOrExit(securitySuite == k154Security, error = kErrorParse);
 
     SuccessOrExit(error = aMessage.ReadAtAndAdvanceOffset(header));