diff --git a/pkg/datapath/linux/devices_controller.go b/pkg/datapath/linux/devices_controller.go
index 25d964464200b..337d8dae1c943 100644
--- a/pkg/datapath/linux/devices_controller.go
+++ b/pkg/datapath/linux/devices_controller.go
@@ -714,7 +714,7 @@ type netlinkFuncs struct {
 // makeNetlinkFuncs returns a *netlinkFuncs containing netlink accessors to the
 // network namespace of the calling goroutine's OS thread.
 func makeNetlinkFuncs() (*netlinkFuncs, error) {
-	netlinkHandle, err := netlink.NewHandle()
+	netlinkHandle, err := netlink.NewHandle(unix.NETLINK_ROUTE, unix.NETLINK_NETFILTER)
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, fmt.Errorf("creating netlink handle: %w", err)
 	}