diff --git a/src/core/thread/mle.cpp b/src/core/thread/mle.cpp
index 33bd615e5..ac7c300a1 100644
--- a/src/core/thread/mle.cpp
+++ b/src/core/thread/mle.cpp
@@ -2770,7 +2770,7 @@ void Mle::HandleAdvertisement(RxInfo &aRxInfo)
 
     case kRoleRouter:
     case kRoleLeader:
-        VerifyOrExit(aRxInfo.mNeighbor && aRxInfo.mNeighbor->IsStateValid());
+        VerifyOrExit(aRxInfo.IsNeighborStateValid());
         break;
     }
 
@@ -2792,7 +2792,7 @@ void Mle::HandleDataResponse(RxInfo &aRxInfo)
 
     Log(kMessageReceive, kTypeDataResponse, aRxInfo.mMessageInfo.GetPeerAddr());
 
-    VerifyOrExit(aRxInfo.mNeighbor && aRxInfo.mNeighbor->IsStateValid(), error = kErrorDrop);
+    VerifyOrExit(aRxInfo.IsNeighborStateValid(), error = kErrorDrop);
 
 #if OPENTHREAD_CONFIG_MLE_LINK_METRICS_INITIATOR_ENABLE
     {
@@ -3299,7 +3299,7 @@ void Mle::HandleChildIdResponse(RxInfo &aRxInfo)
 
     Log(kMessageReceive, kTypeChildIdResponse, aRxInfo.mMessageInfo.GetPeerAddr(), sourceAddress);
 
-    VerifyOrExit(aRxInfo.mNeighbor && aRxInfo.mNeighbor->IsStateValid(), error = kErrorSecurity);
+    VerifyOrExit(aRxInfo.IsNeighborStateValid(), error = kErrorSecurity);
 
     VerifyOrExit(mAttachState == kAttachStateChildIdRequest);
 
diff --git a/src/core/thread/mle.hpp b/src/core/thread/mle.hpp
index bb80873ec..e8611dd58 100644
--- a/src/core/thread/mle.hpp
+++ b/src/core/thread/mle.hpp
@@ -1395,6 +1395,16 @@ protected:
         {
         }
 
+        /**
+         * This method indicates whether the `mNeighbor` (neighbor from which message was received) is non-null and
+         * in valid state.
+         *
+         * @retval TRUE  If `mNeighbor` is non-null and in valid state.
+         * @retval FALSE If `mNeighbor` is `nullptr` or not in valid state.
+         *
+         */
+        bool IsNeighborStateValid(void) const { return (mNeighbor != nullptr) && mNeighbor->IsStateValid(); }
+
         RxMessage              &mMessage;      ///< The MLE message.
         const Ip6::MessageInfo &mMessageInfo;  ///< The `MessageInfo` associated with the message.
         uint32_t                mFrameCounter; ///< The frame counter from aux security header.
diff --git a/src/core/thread/mle_router.cpp b/src/core/thread/mle_router.cpp
index 318f41851..324501109 100644
--- a/src/core/thread/mle_router.cpp
+++ b/src/core/thread/mle_router.cpp
@@ -679,8 +679,7 @@ void MleRouter::HandleLinkRequest(RxInfo &aRxInfo)
 
     case kErrorNotFound:
         // lack of source address indicates router coming out of reset
-        VerifyOrExit(aRxInfo.mNeighbor && aRxInfo.mNeighbor->IsStateValid() &&
-                         IsActiveRouter(aRxInfo.mNeighbor->GetRloc16()),
+        VerifyOrExit(aRxInfo.IsNeighborStateValid() && IsActiveRouter(aRxInfo.mNeighbor->GetRloc16()),
                      error = kErrorDrop);
         neighbor = aRxInfo.mNeighbor;
         break;
@@ -1213,7 +1212,7 @@ Error MleRouter::HandleAdvertisement(RxInfo &aRxInfo)
     }
     else if (leaderData.GetLeaderRouterId() != GetLeaderId())
     {
-        VerifyOrExit(aRxInfo.mNeighbor && aRxInfo.mNeighbor->IsStateValid());
+        VerifyOrExit(aRxInfo.IsNeighborStateValid());
 
         if (!IsChild())
         {
@@ -1232,7 +1231,7 @@ Error MleRouter::HandleAdvertisement(RxInfo &aRxInfo)
     Get<TimeSync>().HandleTimeSyncMessage(aRxInfo.mMessage);
 #endif
 
-    if (IsFullThreadDevice() && (aRxInfo.mNeighbor && aRxInfo.mNeighbor->IsStateValid()) &&
+    if (IsFullThreadDevice() && aRxInfo.IsNeighborStateValid() &&
         ((mRouterTable.GetActiveRouterCount() == 0) ||
          SerialNumber::IsGreater(routeTlv.GetRouterIdSequence(), mRouterTable.GetRouterIdSequence())))
     {
@@ -2738,7 +2737,7 @@ void MleRouter::HandleDataRequest(RxInfo &aRxInfo)
 
     Log(kMessageReceive, kTypeDataRequest, aRxInfo.mMessageInfo.GetPeerAddr());
 
-    VerifyOrExit(aRxInfo.mNeighbor && aRxInfo.mNeighbor->IsStateValid(), error = kErrorSecurity);
+    VerifyOrExit(aRxInfo.IsNeighborStateValid(), error = kErrorSecurity);
 
     // TLV Request
     SuccessOrExit(error = aRxInfo.mMessage.ReadTlvRequestTlv(tlvList));
@@ -4304,7 +4303,7 @@ void MleRouter::HandleTimeSync(RxInfo &aRxInfo)
 {
     Log(kMessageReceive, kTypeTimeSync, aRxInfo.mMessageInfo.GetPeerAddr());
 
-    VerifyOrExit(aRxInfo.mNeighbor && aRxInfo.mNeighbor->IsStateValid());
+    VerifyOrExit(aRxInfo.IsNeighborStateValid());
 
     aRxInfo.mClass = RxInfo::kPeerMessage;