diff --git a/samples/bpf/xdp_router_ipv4.bpf.c b/samples/bpf/xdp_router_ipv4.bpf.c
index 248119ca7938..0643330d1d2e 100644
--- a/samples/bpf/xdp_router_ipv4.bpf.c
+++ b/samples/bpf/xdp_router_ipv4.bpf.c
@@ -150,6 +150,15 @@ int xdp_router_ipv4_prog(struct xdp_md *ctx)
 
 				dest_mac = bpf_map_lookup_elem(&arp_table,
 							       &prefix_value->gw);
+				if (!dest_mac) {
+					/* Forward the packet to the kernel in
+					 * order to trigger ARP discovery for
+					 * the default gw.
+					 */
+					if (rec)
+						NO_TEAR_INC(rec->xdp_pass);
+					return XDP_PASS;
+				}
 			}
 		}