diff --git a/sys/netgraph/ng_bridge.c b/sys/netgraph/ng_bridge.c
--- a/sys/netgraph/ng_bridge.c
+++ b/sys/netgraph/ng_bridge.c
@@ -788,7 +788,8 @@
 		 * This is safe without locking, because it's
 		 * the only operation during shared access.
 		 */
-		host->staleness = 0;
+		if (__predict_false(host->staleness > 0))
+			host->staleness = 0;
 
 	if ((host == NULL && ctx.incoming->learnMac) ||
 	    (host != NULL && host->link != ctx.incoming)) {