diff --git a/pkg/datapath/loader/base.go b/pkg/datapath/loader/base.go
index 0703bcc6e34f..042d013176a4 100644
--- a/pkg/datapath/loader/base.go
+++ b/pkg/datapath/loader/base.go
@@ -116,7 +116,7 @@ type setting struct {
 	ignoreErr bool
 }
 
-func addENIRules(sysSettings *[]setting) error {
+func addENIRules(sysSettings []setting) ([]setting, error) {
 	// AWS ENI mode requires symmetric routing, see
 	// iptables.addCiliumENIRules().
 	// The default AWS daemonset installs the following rules that are used
@@ -135,15 +135,15 @@ func addENIRules(sysSettings *[]setting) error {
 	//
 	// We want to reproduce equivalent rules to ensure correct routing.
 	if !option.Config.EnableIPv4 {
-		return nil
+		return nil, nil
 	}
 
 	iface, err := route.NodeDeviceWithDefaultRoute(option.Config.EnableIPv4, option.Config.EnableIPv6)
 	if err != nil {
-		return fmt.Errorf("failed to find interface with default route: %w", err)
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("failed to find interface with default route: %w", err)
 	}
 
-	*sysSettings = append(*sysSettings, setting{
+	retSettings := append(sysSettings, setting{
 		fmt.Sprintf("net.ipv4.conf.%s.rp_filter", iface.Attrs().Name),
 		"2",
 		false,
@@ -154,10 +154,10 @@ func addENIRules(sysSettings *[]setting) error {
 		Mask:     linux_defaults.MaskMultinodeNodeport,
 		Table:    route.MainTable,
 	}); err != nil {
-		return fmt.Errorf("unable to install ip rule for ENI multi-node NodePort: %w", err)
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("unable to install ip rule for ENI multi-node NodePort: %w", err)
 	}
 
-	return nil
+	return retSettings, nil
 }
 
 // Reinitialize (re-)configures the base datapath configuration including global
@@ -344,7 +344,8 @@ func (l *Loader) Reinitialize(ctx context.Context, o datapath.BaseProgramOwner,
 	}).Info("Setting up BPF datapath")
 
 	if option.Config.IPAM == ipamOption.IPAMENI {
-		if err := addENIRules(&sysSettings); err != nil {
+		var err error
+		if sysSettings, err = addENIRules(sysSettings); err != nil {
 			return fmt.Errorf("unable to install ip rule for ENI multi-node NodePort: %w", err)
 		}
 	}