diff --git a/drivers/net/ethernet/mellanox/mlx5/core/steering/dr_matcher.c b/drivers/net/ethernet/mellanox/mlx5/core/steering/dr_matcher.c
index d9f66faa619e7..e87cf498c77bf 100644
--- a/drivers/net/ethernet/mellanox/mlx5/core/steering/dr_matcher.c
+++ b/drivers/net/ethernet/mellanox/mlx5/core/steering/dr_matcher.c
@@ -683,10 +683,10 @@ static int dr_matcher_set_ste_builders(struct mlx5dr_matcher *matcher,
 	return 0;
 }
 
-static int dr_matcher_connect(struct mlx5dr_domain *dmn,
-			      struct mlx5dr_matcher_rx_tx *curr_nic_matcher,
-			      struct mlx5dr_matcher_rx_tx *next_nic_matcher,
-			      struct mlx5dr_matcher_rx_tx *prev_nic_matcher)
+static int dr_nic_matcher_connect(struct mlx5dr_domain *dmn,
+				  struct mlx5dr_matcher_rx_tx *curr_nic_matcher,
+				  struct mlx5dr_matcher_rx_tx *next_nic_matcher,
+				  struct mlx5dr_matcher_rx_tx *prev_nic_matcher)
 {
 	struct mlx5dr_table_rx_tx *nic_tbl = curr_nic_matcher->nic_tbl;
 	struct mlx5dr_domain_rx_tx *nic_dmn = nic_tbl->nic_dmn;
@@ -742,58 +742,50 @@ static int dr_matcher_connect(struct mlx5dr_domain *dmn,
 	return 0;
 }
 
-static int dr_matcher_add_to_tbl(struct mlx5dr_matcher *matcher)
+int mlx5dr_matcher_add_to_tbl_nic(struct mlx5dr_domain *dmn,
+				  struct mlx5dr_matcher_rx_tx *nic_matcher)
 {
-	struct mlx5dr_matcher *next_matcher, *prev_matcher, *tmp_matcher;
-	struct mlx5dr_table *tbl = matcher->tbl;
-	struct mlx5dr_domain *dmn = tbl->dmn;
+	struct mlx5dr_matcher_rx_tx *next_nic_matcher, *prev_nic_matcher, *tmp_nic_matcher;
+	struct mlx5dr_table_rx_tx *nic_tbl = nic_matcher->nic_tbl;
 	bool first = true;
 	int ret;
 
-	next_matcher = NULL;
-	list_for_each_entry(tmp_matcher, &tbl->matcher_list, list_node) {
-		if (tmp_matcher->prio >= matcher->prio) {
-			next_matcher = tmp_matcher;
+	/* If the nic matcher is already on its parent nic table list,
+	 * then it is already connected to the chain of nic matchers.
+	 */
+	if (!list_empty(&nic_matcher->list_node))
+		return 0;
+
+	next_nic_matcher = NULL;
+	list_for_each_entry(tmp_nic_matcher, &nic_tbl->nic_matcher_list, list_node) {
+		if (tmp_nic_matcher->prio >= nic_matcher->prio) {
+			next_nic_matcher = tmp_nic_matcher;
 			break;
 		}
 		first = false;
 	}
 
-	prev_matcher = NULL;
-	if (next_matcher && !first)
-		prev_matcher = list_prev_entry(next_matcher, list_node);
+	prev_nic_matcher = NULL;
+	if (next_nic_matcher && !first)
+		prev_nic_matcher = list_prev_entry(next_nic_matcher, list_node);
 	else if (!first)
-		prev_matcher = list_last_entry(&tbl->matcher_list,
-					       struct mlx5dr_matcher,
-					       list_node);
-
-	if (dmn->type == MLX5DR_DOMAIN_TYPE_FDB ||
-	    dmn->type == MLX5DR_DOMAIN_TYPE_NIC_RX) {
-		ret = dr_matcher_connect(dmn, &matcher->rx,
-					 next_matcher ? &next_matcher->rx : NULL,
-					 prev_matcher ?	&prev_matcher->rx : NULL);
-		if (ret)
-			return ret;
-	}
+		prev_nic_matcher = list_last_entry(&nic_tbl->nic_matcher_list,
+						   struct mlx5dr_matcher_rx_tx,
+						   list_node);
 
-	if (dmn->type == MLX5DR_DOMAIN_TYPE_FDB ||
-	    dmn->type == MLX5DR_DOMAIN_TYPE_NIC_TX) {
-		ret = dr_matcher_connect(dmn, &matcher->tx,
-					 next_matcher ? &next_matcher->tx : NULL,
-					 prev_matcher ?	&prev_matcher->tx : NULL);
-		if (ret)
-			return ret;
-	}
+	ret = dr_nic_matcher_connect(dmn, nic_matcher,
+				     next_nic_matcher, prev_nic_matcher);
+	if (ret)
+		return ret;
 
-	if (prev_matcher)
-		list_add(&matcher->list_node, &prev_matcher->list_node);
-	else if (next_matcher)
-		list_add_tail(&matcher->list_node,
-			      &next_matcher->list_node);
+	if (prev_nic_matcher)
+		list_add(&nic_matcher->list_node, &prev_nic_matcher->list_node);
+	else if (next_nic_matcher)
+		list_add_tail(&nic_matcher->list_node, &next_nic_matcher->list_node);
 	else
-		list_add(&matcher->list_node, &tbl->matcher_list);
+		list_add(&nic_matcher->list_node, &nic_matcher->nic_tbl->nic_matcher_list);
 
-	return 0;
+	return ret;
 }
 
 static void dr_matcher_uninit_nic(struct mlx5dr_matcher_rx_tx *nic_matcher)
@@ -852,6 +844,9 @@ static int dr_matcher_init_nic(struct mlx5dr_matcher *matcher,
 	struct mlx5dr_domain *dmn = matcher->tbl->dmn;
 	int ret;
 
+	nic_matcher->prio = matcher->prio;
+	INIT_LIST_HEAD(&nic_matcher->list_node);
+
 	ret = dr_matcher_set_all_ste_builders(matcher, nic_matcher);
 	if (ret)
 		return ret;
@@ -979,6 +974,20 @@ static int dr_matcher_init(struct mlx5dr_matcher *matcher,
 	return ret;
 }
 
+static void dr_matcher_add_to_dbg_list(struct mlx5dr_matcher *matcher)
+{
+	mutex_lock(&matcher->tbl->dmn->dump_info.dbg_mutex);
+	list_add(&matcher->list_node, &matcher->tbl->matcher_list);
+	mutex_unlock(&matcher->tbl->dmn->dump_info.dbg_mutex);
+}
+
+static void dr_matcher_remove_from_dbg_list(struct mlx5dr_matcher *matcher)
+{
+	mutex_lock(&matcher->tbl->dmn->dump_info.dbg_mutex);
+	list_del(&matcher->list_node);
+	mutex_unlock(&matcher->tbl->dmn->dump_info.dbg_mutex);
+}
+
 struct mlx5dr_matcher *
 mlx5dr_matcher_create(struct mlx5dr_table *tbl,
 		      u32 priority,
@@ -1007,16 +1016,12 @@ mlx5dr_matcher_create(struct mlx5dr_table *tbl,
 	if (ret)
 		goto free_matcher;
 
-	ret = dr_matcher_add_to_tbl(matcher);
-	if (ret)
-		goto matcher_uninit;
+	dr_matcher_add_to_dbg_list(matcher);
 
 	mlx5dr_domain_unlock(tbl->dmn);
 
 	return matcher;
 
-matcher_uninit:
-	dr_matcher_uninit(matcher);
 free_matcher:
 	mlx5dr_domain_unlock(tbl->dmn);
 	kfree(matcher);
@@ -1025,10 +1030,10 @@ mlx5dr_matcher_create(struct mlx5dr_table *tbl,
 	return NULL;
 }
 
-static int dr_matcher_disconnect(struct mlx5dr_domain *dmn,
-				 struct mlx5dr_table_rx_tx *nic_tbl,
-				 struct mlx5dr_matcher_rx_tx *next_nic_matcher,
-				 struct mlx5dr_matcher_rx_tx *prev_nic_matcher)
+static int dr_matcher_disconnect_nic(struct mlx5dr_domain *dmn,
+				     struct mlx5dr_table_rx_tx *nic_tbl,
+				     struct mlx5dr_matcher_rx_tx *next_nic_matcher,
+				     struct mlx5dr_matcher_rx_tx *prev_nic_matcher)
 {
 	struct mlx5dr_domain_rx_tx *nic_dmn = nic_tbl->nic_dmn;
 	struct mlx5dr_htbl_connect_info info;
@@ -1055,43 +1060,34 @@ static int dr_matcher_disconnect(struct mlx5dr_domain *dmn,
 						 &info, true);
 }
 
-static int dr_matcher_remove_from_tbl(struct mlx5dr_matcher *matcher)
+int mlx5dr_matcher_remove_from_tbl_nic(struct mlx5dr_domain *dmn,
+				       struct mlx5dr_matcher_rx_tx *nic_matcher)
 {
-	struct mlx5dr_matcher *prev_matcher, *next_matcher;
-	struct mlx5dr_table *tbl = matcher->tbl;
-	struct mlx5dr_domain *dmn = tbl->dmn;
-	int ret = 0;
+	struct mlx5dr_matcher_rx_tx *prev_nic_matcher, *next_nic_matcher;
+	struct mlx5dr_table_rx_tx *nic_tbl = nic_matcher->nic_tbl;
+	int ret;
 
-	if (list_is_last(&matcher->list_node, &tbl->matcher_list))
-		next_matcher = NULL;
-	else
-		next_matcher = list_next_entry(matcher, list_node);
+	/* If the nic matcher is not on its parent nic table list,
+	 * then it is detached - no need to disconnect it.
+	 */
+	if (list_empty(&nic_matcher->list_node))
+		return 0;
 
-	if (matcher->list_node.prev == &tbl->matcher_list)
-		prev_matcher = NULL;
+	if (list_is_last(&nic_matcher->list_node, &nic_tbl->nic_matcher_list))
+		next_nic_matcher = NULL;
 	else
-		prev_matcher = list_prev_entry(matcher, list_node);
-
-	if (dmn->type == MLX5DR_DOMAIN_TYPE_FDB ||
-	    dmn->type == MLX5DR_DOMAIN_TYPE_NIC_RX) {
-		ret = dr_matcher_disconnect(dmn, &tbl->rx,
-					    next_matcher ? &next_matcher->rx : NULL,
-					    prev_matcher ? &prev_matcher->rx : NULL);
-		if (ret)
-			return ret;
-	}
+		next_nic_matcher = list_next_entry(nic_matcher, list_node);
 
-	if (dmn->type == MLX5DR_DOMAIN_TYPE_FDB ||
-	    dmn->type == MLX5DR_DOMAIN_TYPE_NIC_TX) {
-		ret = dr_matcher_disconnect(dmn, &tbl->tx,
-					    next_matcher ? &next_matcher->tx : NULL,
-					    prev_matcher ? &prev_matcher->tx : NULL);
-		if (ret)
-			return ret;
-	}
+	if (nic_matcher->list_node.prev == &nic_tbl->nic_matcher_list)
+		prev_nic_matcher = NULL;
+	else
+		prev_nic_matcher = list_prev_entry(nic_matcher, list_node);
 
-	list_del(&matcher->list_node);
+	ret = dr_matcher_disconnect_nic(dmn, nic_tbl, next_nic_matcher, prev_nic_matcher);
+	if (ret)
+		return ret;
 
+	list_del_init(&nic_matcher->list_node);
 	return 0;
 }
 
@@ -1104,7 +1100,7 @@ int mlx5dr_matcher_destroy(struct mlx5dr_matcher *matcher)
 
 	mlx5dr_domain_lock(tbl->dmn);
 
-	dr_matcher_remove_from_tbl(matcher);
+	dr_matcher_remove_from_dbg_list(matcher);
 	dr_matcher_uninit(matcher);
 	refcount_dec(&matcher->tbl->refcount);
 
diff --git a/drivers/net/ethernet/mellanox/mlx5/core/steering/dr_rule.c b/drivers/net/ethernet/mellanox/mlx5/core/steering/dr_rule.c
index 43e7fe85cbc7e..b4374578425bd 100644
--- a/drivers/net/ethernet/mellanox/mlx5/core/steering/dr_rule.c
+++ b/drivers/net/ethernet/mellanox/mlx5/core/steering/dr_rule.c
@@ -990,8 +990,20 @@ static bool dr_rule_verify(struct mlx5dr_matcher *matcher,
 static int dr_rule_destroy_rule_nic(struct mlx5dr_rule *rule,
 				    struct mlx5dr_rule_rx_tx *nic_rule)
 {
+	/* Check if this nic rule was actually created, or was it skipped
+	 * and only the other type of the RX/TX nic rule was created.
+	 */
+	if (!nic_rule->last_rule_ste)
+		return 0;
+
 	mlx5dr_domain_nic_lock(nic_rule->nic_matcher->nic_tbl->nic_dmn);
 	dr_rule_clean_rule_members(rule, nic_rule);
+
+	nic_rule->nic_matcher->rules--;
+	if (!nic_rule->nic_matcher->rules)
+		mlx5dr_matcher_remove_from_tbl_nic(rule->matcher->tbl->dmn,
+						   nic_rule->nic_matcher);
+
 	mlx5dr_domain_nic_unlock(nic_rule->nic_matcher->nic_tbl->nic_dmn);
 
 	return 0;
@@ -1098,24 +1110,28 @@ dr_rule_create_rule_nic(struct mlx5dr_rule *rule,
 
 	mlx5dr_domain_nic_lock(nic_dmn);
 
+	ret = mlx5dr_matcher_add_to_tbl_nic(dmn, nic_matcher);
+	if (ret)
+		goto free_hw_ste;
+
 	ret = mlx5dr_matcher_select_builders(matcher,
 					     nic_matcher,
 					     dr_rule_get_ipv(&param->outer),
 					     dr_rule_get_ipv(&param->inner));
 	if (ret)
-		goto free_hw_ste;
+		goto remove_from_nic_tbl;
 
 	/* Set the tag values inside the ste array */
 	ret = mlx5dr_ste_build_ste_arr(matcher, nic_matcher, param, hw_ste_arr);
 	if (ret)
-		goto free_hw_ste;
+		goto remove_from_nic_tbl;
 
 	/* Set the actions values/addresses inside the ste array */
 	ret = mlx5dr_actions_build_ste_arr(matcher, nic_matcher, actions,
 					   num_actions, hw_ste_arr,
 					   &new_hw_ste_arr_sz);
 	if (ret)
-		goto free_hw_ste;
+		goto remove_from_nic_tbl;
 
 	cur_htbl = nic_matcher->s_htbl;
 
@@ -1162,6 +1178,8 @@ dr_rule_create_rule_nic(struct mlx5dr_rule *rule,
 	if (htbl)
 		mlx5dr_htbl_put(htbl);
 
+	nic_matcher->rules++;
+
 	mlx5dr_domain_nic_unlock(nic_dmn);
 
 	kfree(hw_ste_arr);
@@ -1175,6 +1193,10 @@ dr_rule_create_rule_nic(struct mlx5dr_rule *rule,
 		list_del(&ste_info->send_list);
 		kfree(ste_info);
 	}
+
+remove_from_nic_tbl:
+	mlx5dr_matcher_remove_from_tbl_nic(dmn, nic_matcher);
+
 free_hw_ste:
 	mlx5dr_domain_nic_unlock(nic_dmn);
 	kfree(hw_ste_arr);
diff --git a/drivers/net/ethernet/mellanox/mlx5/core/steering/dr_table.c b/drivers/net/ethernet/mellanox/mlx5/core/steering/dr_table.c
index 1d6b43a52c58b..8ca110643cc0a 100644
--- a/drivers/net/ethernet/mellanox/mlx5/core/steering/dr_table.c
+++ b/drivers/net/ethernet/mellanox/mlx5/core/steering/dr_table.c
@@ -3,69 +3,66 @@
 
 #include "dr_types.h"
 
-int mlx5dr_table_set_miss_action(struct mlx5dr_table *tbl,
-				 struct mlx5dr_action *action)
+static int dr_table_set_miss_action_nic(struct mlx5dr_domain *dmn,
+					struct mlx5dr_table_rx_tx *nic_tbl,
+					struct mlx5dr_action *action)
 {
-	struct mlx5dr_matcher *last_matcher = NULL;
+	struct mlx5dr_matcher_rx_tx *last_nic_matcher = NULL;
 	struct mlx5dr_htbl_connect_info info;
 	struct mlx5dr_ste_htbl *last_htbl;
 	int ret;
 
+	if (!list_empty(&nic_tbl->nic_matcher_list))
+		last_nic_matcher = list_last_entry(&nic_tbl->nic_matcher_list,
+						   struct mlx5dr_matcher_rx_tx,
+						   list_node);
+
+	if (last_nic_matcher)
+		last_htbl = last_nic_matcher->e_anchor;
+	else
+		last_htbl = nic_tbl->s_anchor;
+
+	if (action)
+		nic_tbl->default_icm_addr =
+			nic_tbl->nic_dmn->type == DR_DOMAIN_NIC_TYPE_RX ?
+				action->dest_tbl->tbl->rx.s_anchor->chunk->icm_addr :
+				action->dest_tbl->tbl->tx.s_anchor->chunk->icm_addr;
+	else
+		nic_tbl->default_icm_addr = nic_tbl->nic_dmn->default_icm_addr;
+
+	info.type = CONNECT_MISS;
+	info.miss_icm_addr = nic_tbl->default_icm_addr;
+
+	ret = mlx5dr_ste_htbl_init_and_postsend(dmn, nic_tbl->nic_dmn,
+						last_htbl, &info, true);
+	if (ret)
+		mlx5dr_dbg(dmn, "Failed to set NIC RX/TX miss action, ret %d\n", ret);
+
+	return ret;
+}
+
+int mlx5dr_table_set_miss_action(struct mlx5dr_table *tbl,
+				 struct mlx5dr_action *action)
+{
+	int ret;
+
 	if (action && action->action_type != DR_ACTION_TYP_FT)
 		return -EOPNOTSUPP;
 
 	mlx5dr_domain_lock(tbl->dmn);
 
-	if (!list_empty(&tbl->matcher_list))
-		last_matcher = list_last_entry(&tbl->matcher_list,
-					       struct mlx5dr_matcher,
-					       list_node);
-
 	if (tbl->dmn->type == MLX5DR_DOMAIN_TYPE_NIC_RX ||
 	    tbl->dmn->type == MLX5DR_DOMAIN_TYPE_FDB) {
-		if (last_matcher)
-			last_htbl = last_matcher->rx.e_anchor;
-		else
-			last_htbl = tbl->rx.s_anchor;
-
-		tbl->rx.default_icm_addr = action ?
-			action->dest_tbl->tbl->rx.s_anchor->chunk->icm_addr :
-			tbl->rx.nic_dmn->default_icm_addr;
-
-		info.type = CONNECT_MISS;
-		info.miss_icm_addr = tbl->rx.default_icm_addr;
-
-		ret = mlx5dr_ste_htbl_init_and_postsend(tbl->dmn,
-							tbl->rx.nic_dmn,
-							last_htbl,
-							&info, true);
-		if (ret) {
-			mlx5dr_dbg(tbl->dmn, "Failed to set RX miss action, ret %d\n", ret);
+		ret = dr_table_set_miss_action_nic(tbl->dmn, &tbl->rx, action);
+		if (ret)
 			goto out;
-		}
 	}
 
 	if (tbl->dmn->type == MLX5DR_DOMAIN_TYPE_NIC_TX ||
 	    tbl->dmn->type == MLX5DR_DOMAIN_TYPE_FDB) {
-		if (last_matcher)
-			last_htbl = last_matcher->tx.e_anchor;
-		else
-			last_htbl = tbl->tx.s_anchor;
-
-		tbl->tx.default_icm_addr = action ?
-			action->dest_tbl->tbl->tx.s_anchor->chunk->icm_addr :
-			tbl->tx.nic_dmn->default_icm_addr;
-
-		info.type = CONNECT_MISS;
-		info.miss_icm_addr = tbl->tx.default_icm_addr;
-
-		ret = mlx5dr_ste_htbl_init_and_postsend(tbl->dmn,
-							tbl->tx.nic_dmn,
-							last_htbl, &info, true);
-		if (ret) {
-			mlx5dr_dbg(tbl->dmn, "Failed to set TX miss action, ret %d\n", ret);
+		ret = dr_table_set_miss_action_nic(tbl->dmn, &tbl->tx, action);
+		if (ret)
 			goto out;
-		}
 	}
 
 	/* Release old action */
@@ -122,6 +119,8 @@ static int dr_table_init_nic(struct mlx5dr_domain *dmn,
 	struct mlx5dr_htbl_connect_info info;
 	int ret;
 
+	INIT_LIST_HEAD(&nic_tbl->nic_matcher_list);
+
 	nic_tbl->default_icm_addr = nic_dmn->default_icm_addr;
 
 	nic_tbl->s_anchor = mlx5dr_ste_htbl_alloc(dmn->ste_icm_pool,
diff --git a/drivers/net/ethernet/mellanox/mlx5/core/steering/dr_types.h b/drivers/net/ethernet/mellanox/mlx5/core/steering/dr_types.h
index 21a9b07ba327e..1b3d484b99be1 100644
--- a/drivers/net/ethernet/mellanox/mlx5/core/steering/dr_types.h
+++ b/drivers/net/ethernet/mellanox/mlx5/core/steering/dr_types.h
@@ -911,6 +911,7 @@ struct mlx5dr_table_rx_tx {
 	struct mlx5dr_ste_htbl *s_anchor;
 	struct mlx5dr_domain_rx_tx *nic_dmn;
 	u64 default_icm_addr;
+	struct list_head nic_matcher_list;
 };
 
 struct mlx5dr_table {
@@ -938,6 +939,9 @@ struct mlx5dr_matcher_rx_tx {
 	u8 num_of_builders_arr[DR_RULE_IPV_MAX][DR_RULE_IPV_MAX];
 	u64 default_icm_addr;
 	struct mlx5dr_table_rx_tx *nic_tbl;
+	u32 prio;
+	struct list_head list_node;
+	u32 rules;
 };
 
 struct mlx5dr_matcher {
@@ -1119,6 +1123,11 @@ static inline void mlx5dr_domain_unlock(struct mlx5dr_domain *dmn)
 	mlx5dr_domain_nic_unlock(&dmn->info.rx);
 }
 
+int mlx5dr_matcher_add_to_tbl_nic(struct mlx5dr_domain *dmn,
+				  struct mlx5dr_matcher_rx_tx *nic_matcher);
+int mlx5dr_matcher_remove_from_tbl_nic(struct mlx5dr_domain *dmn,
+				       struct mlx5dr_matcher_rx_tx *nic_matcher);
+
 int mlx5dr_matcher_select_builders(struct mlx5dr_matcher *matcher,
 				   struct mlx5dr_matcher_rx_tx *nic_matcher,
 				   enum mlx5dr_ipv outer_ipv,