diff --git a/src/core/net/ip6.cpp b/src/core/net/ip6.cpp
index e5140a839..adc4fd374 100644
--- a/src/core/net/ip6.cpp
+++ b/src/core/net/ip6.cpp
@@ -67,7 +67,6 @@ RegisterLogModule("Ip6");
 
 Ip6::Ip6(Instance &aInstance)
     : InstanceLocator(aInstance)
-    , mForwardingEnabled(false)
     , mIsReceiveIp6FilterEnabled(false)
     , mSendQueueTask(aInstance)
     , mIcmp(aInstance)
@@ -1299,7 +1298,7 @@ start:
 
         if (aOrigin == kFromThreadNetif)
         {
-            VerifyOrExit(mForwardingEnabled);
+            VerifyOrExit(Get<Mle::Mle>().IsRouterOrLeader());
             header.SetHopLimit(header.GetHopLimit() - 1);
         }
 
diff --git a/src/core/net/ip6.hpp b/src/core/net/ip6.hpp
index 0ae284c9e..670d047a2 100644
--- a/src/core/net/ip6.hpp
+++ b/src/core/net/ip6.hpp
@@ -293,22 +293,6 @@ public:
      */
     void SetReceiveIp6FilterEnabled(bool aEnabled) { mIsReceiveIp6FilterEnabled = aEnabled; }
 
-    /**
-     * This method indicates whether or not IPv6 forwarding is enabled.
-     *
-     * @returns TRUE if IPv6 forwarding is enabled, FALSE otherwise.
-     *
-     */
-    bool IsForwardingEnabled(void) const { return mForwardingEnabled; }
-
-    /**
-     * This method enables/disables IPv6 forwarding.
-     *
-     * @param[in]  aEnable  TRUE to enable IPv6 forwarding, FALSE otherwise.
-     *
-     */
-    void SetForwardingEnabled(bool aEnable) { mForwardingEnabled = aEnable; }
-
     /**
      * This method performs default source address selection.
      *
@@ -432,7 +416,6 @@ private:
 
     using SendQueueTask = TaskletIn<Ip6, &Ip6::HandleSendQueue>;
 
-    bool mForwardingEnabled;
     bool mIsReceiveIp6FilterEnabled;
 
     Callback<otIp6ReceiveCallback> mReceiveIp6DatagramCallback;
diff --git a/src/core/thread/mle.cpp b/src/core/thread/mle.cpp
index c840a517f..a47104d7f 100644
--- a/src/core/thread/mle.cpp
+++ b/src/core/thread/mle.cpp
@@ -697,7 +697,6 @@ void Mle::SetStateDetached(void)
 #if OPENTHREAD_FTD
     Get<MleRouter>().HandleDetachStart();
 #endif
-    Get<Ip6::Ip6>().SetForwardingEnabled(false);
 #if OPENTHREAD_CONFIG_MAC_CSL_RECEIVER_ENABLE
     Get<Mac::Mac>().UpdateCsl();
 #endif
@@ -727,8 +726,6 @@ void Mle::SetStateChild(uint16_t aRloc16)
     }
 #endif
 
-    Get<Ip6::Ip6>().SetForwardingEnabled(false);
-
     // send announce after attached if needed
     InformPreviousChannel();
 
diff --git a/src/core/thread/mle_router.cpp b/src/core/thread/mle_router.cpp
index 8545a69ef..3ea8832cc 100644
--- a/src/core/thread/mle_router.cpp
+++ b/src/core/thread/mle_router.cpp
@@ -378,7 +378,6 @@ void MleRouter::SetStateRouter(uint16_t aRloc16)
 
     Get<ThreadNetif>().SubscribeAllRoutersMulticast();
     mPreviousPartitionIdRouter = mLeaderData.GetPartitionId();
-    Get<Ip6::Ip6>().SetForwardingEnabled(true);
     Get<Mac::Mac>().SetBeaconEnabled(true);
 
     // remove children that do not have matching RLOC16
@@ -418,7 +417,6 @@ void MleRouter::SetStateLeader(uint16_t aRloc16, LeaderStartMode aStartMode)
     Get<NetworkData::Leader>().Start(aStartMode);
     Get<MeshCoP::ActiveDatasetManager>().StartLeader();
     Get<MeshCoP::PendingDatasetManager>().StartLeader();
-    Get<Ip6::Ip6>().SetForwardingEnabled(true);
     Get<Mac::Mac>().SetBeaconEnabled(true);
     Get<AddressResolver>().Clear();