diff --git a/net/xfrm/xfrm_state.c b/net/xfrm/xfrm_state.c
index 0f88cb6fc3c2..2f4cf976b59a 100644
--- a/net/xfrm/xfrm_state.c
+++ b/net/xfrm/xfrm_state.c
@@ -2649,11 +2649,6 @@ int __xfrm_init_state(struct xfrm_state *x, bool init_replay, bool offload,
 			goto error;
 		}
 
-		if (!(inner_mode->flags & XFRM_MODE_FLAG_TUNNEL)) {
-			NL_SET_ERR_MSG(extack, "Only tunnel modes can accommodate an AF_UNSPEC selector");
-			goto error;
-		}
-
 		x->inner_mode = *inner_mode;
 
 		if (x->props.family == AF_INET)