diff --git a/include/uapi/linux/netfilter/nf_conntrack_common.h b/include/uapi/linux/netfilter/nf_conntrack_common.h
index 4b3395082d15c..26071021e986f 100644
--- a/include/uapi/linux/netfilter/nf_conntrack_common.h
+++ b/include/uapi/linux/netfilter/nf_conntrack_common.h
@@ -106,7 +106,7 @@ enum ip_conntrack_status {
 	IPS_NAT_CLASH = IPS_UNTRACKED,
 #endif
 
-	/* Conntrack got a helper explicitly attached via CT target. */
+	/* Conntrack got a helper explicitly attached (ruleset, ctnetlink). */
 	IPS_HELPER_BIT = 13,
 	IPS_HELPER = (1 << IPS_HELPER_BIT),
 
diff --git a/net/netfilter/nf_conntrack_netlink.c b/net/netfilter/nf_conntrack_netlink.c
index ac438370f94a9..7032402ffd331 100644
--- a/net/netfilter/nf_conntrack_netlink.c
+++ b/net/netfilter/nf_conntrack_netlink.c
@@ -2311,7 +2311,8 @@ ctnetlink_create_conntrack(struct net *net,
 			if (helper->from_nlattr)
 				helper->from_nlattr(helpinfo, ct);
 
-			/* not in hash table yet so not strictly necessary */
+			/* disable helper auto-assignment for this entry */
+			ct->status |= IPS_HELPER;
 			RCU_INIT_POINTER(help->helper, helper);
 		}
 	} else {