diff --git a/src/core/thread/mle_router.cpp b/src/core/thread/mle_router.cpp
index 7fe9b36d0..8a76169c9 100644
--- a/src/core/thread/mle_router.cpp
+++ b/src/core/thread/mle_router.cpp
@@ -125,6 +125,11 @@ void MleRouter::SetRouterRoleEnabled(bool aEnabled)
 
         break;
     }
+
+    if (IsRouterRoleEnabled() && IsAttached() && !mStateUpdateTimer.IsRunning())
+    {
+        mStateUpdateTimer.Start(kStateUpdatePeriod);
+    }
 }
 
 otError MleRouter::BecomeRouter(ThreadStatusTlv::Status aStatus)