diff --git a/src/network/bridge_driver.c b/src/network/bridge_driver.c
index 875c6f6509b0982ca47a100a3f7e576d8d155188..3a7a249a05fe2d6054030dfcf2c391f1dcde55b1 100644
--- a/src/network/bridge_driver.c
+++ b/src/network/bridge_driver.c
@@ -2391,10 +2391,9 @@ networkStartNetworkVirtual(virNetworkDriverStatePtr driver,
 
     /* If forward.type != NONE, turn on global IP forwarding */
     if (network->def->forward.type != VIR_NETWORK_FORWARD_NONE) {
-        if (!virNetDevIPCheckIPv6Forwarding())
+        if (v6present && !virNetDevIPCheckIPv6Forwarding())
             goto err3; /* Precise error message already provided */
 
-
         if (networkEnableIPForwarding(v4present, v6present) < 0) {
             virReportSystemError(errno, "%s",
                                  _("failed to enable IP forwarding"));