diff --git a/felix/bpf-gpl/tc.c b/felix/bpf-gpl/tc.c
index 50e84680fca..db4e3f5c5f9 100644
--- a/felix/bpf-gpl/tc.c
+++ b/felix/bpf-gpl/tc.c
@@ -1319,12 +1319,22 @@ int calico_tc_skb_new_flow_entrypoint(struct __sk_buff *skb)
 	if (CALI_F_TO_HOST && state->flags & CALI_ST_SKIP_FIB) {
 		ct_ctx_nat->flags |= CALI_CT_FLAG_SKIP_FIB;
 	}
-	/* Packets received at WEP with CALI_CT_FLAG_SKIP_FIB mark signal
-	 * that all traffic on this connection must flow via host namespace as it was
-	 * originally meant for host, but got redirected to a WEP by a 3rd party DNAT rule.
-	 */
-	if (CALI_F_TO_WEP && ((ctx->skb->mark & CALI_SKB_MARK_SKIP_FIB) == CALI_SKB_MARK_SKIP_FIB)) {
-		ct_ctx_nat->flags |= CALI_CT_FLAG_SKIP_FIB;
+	if (CALI_F_TO_WEP) {
+		if (!(ctx->skb->mark & CALI_SKB_MARK_SEEN)) {
+			/* If the packet wasn't seen, must come from host. There is no
+			 * need to do FIB lookup for returning traffic. In fact, it may
+			 * not be always correct, e.g. when some mesh and custom iptables
+			 * rules are used by the host. So don't mess with it.
+			 */
+			ct_ctx_nat->flags |= CALI_CT_FLAG_SKIP_FIB;
+		} else if ((ctx->skb->mark & CALI_SKB_MARK_SKIP_FIB) == CALI_SKB_MARK_SKIP_FIB) {
+			/* Packets received at WEP with CALI_CT_FLAG_SKIP_FIB mark signal
+			 * that all traffic on this connection must flow via host
+			 * namespace as it was originally meant for host, but got
+			 * redirected to a WEP by a 3rd party DNAT rule.
+			 */
+			ct_ctx_nat->flags |= CALI_CT_FLAG_SKIP_FIB;
+		}
 	}
 	if (CALI_F_TO_HOST && CALI_F_NAT_IF) {
 		ct_ctx_nat->flags |= CALI_CT_FLAG_VIA_NAT_IF;
diff --git a/felix/fv/bpf_test.go b/felix/fv/bpf_test.go
index fc01c780b43..7ced122b6d6 100644
--- a/felix/fv/bpf_test.go
+++ b/felix/fv/bpf_test.go
@@ -938,6 +938,22 @@ func describeBPFTests(opts ...bpfTestOpt) bool {
 						cc.ResetExpectations()
 					}
 				})
+
+				It("should respond back to host is the original traffic came from the host", func() {
+					if testOpts.ipv6 {
+						return
+					}
+
+					By("Setting up istio-like rules that SNAT host as link-local IP")
+
+					tc.Felixes[0].Exec("iptables", "-t", "nat", "-A", "POSTROUTING", "-d", w[0].IP, "-j",
+						"SNAT", "--to-source", "169.254.7.127")
+
+					By("Testing connectivity from host to pod")
+
+					cc.Expect(Some, hostW, w[0], ExpectWithSrcIPs("169.254.7.127"))
+					cc.CheckConnectivity()
+				})
 			}
 
 			if testOpts.nonProtoTests {