diff --git a/net/xfrm/xfrm_state.c b/net/xfrm/xfrm_state.c
index 9e14e453b55c..98b362d51836 100644
--- a/net/xfrm/xfrm_state.c
+++ b/net/xfrm/xfrm_state.c
@@ -3151,6 +3151,7 @@ int __xfrm_init_state(struct xfrm_state *x, struct netlink_ext_ack *extack)
 	int err;
 
 	if (family == AF_INET &&
+	    (!x->dir || x->dir == XFRM_SA_DIR_OUT) &&
 	    READ_ONCE(xs_net(x)->ipv4.sysctl_ip_no_pmtu_disc))
 		x->props.flags |= XFRM_STATE_NOPMTUDISC;