diff --git a/src/core/thread/mle_router.cpp b/src/core/thread/mle_router.cpp
index bc425f15f..20801901e 100644
--- a/src/core/thread/mle_router.cpp
+++ b/src/core/thread/mle_router.cpp
@@ -948,6 +948,7 @@ otError MleRouter::HandleLinkAccept(const Message &         aMessage,
     router->SetLinkAckFrameCounter(linkFrameCounter);
     router->SetMleFrameCounter(mleFrameCounter);
     router->SetLastHeard(TimerMilli::GetNow());
+    router->SetVersion(static_cast<uint8_t>(version));
     router->SetDeviceMode(DeviceMode(DeviceMode::kModeFullThreadDevice | DeviceMode::kModeRxOnWhenIdle |
                                      DeviceMode::kModeFullNetworkData));
     router->GetLinkInfo().Clear();