neigh = neigh_lookup(tbl, dst, dev);
        if (neigh == NULL) {
-               bool exempt_from_gc;
+               bool ndm_permanent  = ndm->ndm_state & NUD_PERMANENT;
+               bool exempt_from_gc = ndm_permanent ||
+                                     ndm_flags & NTF_EXT_LEARNED;
 
                if (!(nlh->nlmsg_flags & NLM_F_CREATE)) {
                        err = -ENOENT;
                        goto out;
                }
+               if (ndm_permanent && (ndm_flags & NTF_MANAGED)) {
+                       NL_SET_ERR_MSG(extack, "Invalid NTF_* flag for permanent entry");
+                       err = -EINVAL;
+                       goto out;
+               }
 
-               exempt_from_gc = ndm->ndm_state & NUD_PERMANENT ||
-                                ndm_flags & NTF_EXT_LEARNED;
                neigh = ___neigh_create(tbl, dst, dev,
                                        ndm_flags &
                                        (NTF_EXT_LEARNED | NTF_MANAGED),