diff --git a/tools/net/ynl/ynl-gen-c.py b/tools/net/ynl/ynl-gen-c.py
index 6b7eb2d2aaf18..a451cbfbd781d 100755
--- a/tools/net/ynl/ynl-gen-c.py
+++ b/tools/net/ynl/ynl-gen-c.py
@@ -228,8 +228,11 @@ def setter(self, ri, space, direction, deref=False, ref=None):
         presence = ''
         for i in range(0, len(ref)):
             presence = f"{var}->{'.'.join(ref[:i] + [''])}_present.{ref[i]}"
-            if self.presence_type() == 'bit':
-                code.append(presence + ' = 1;')
+            # Every layer below last is a nest, so we know it uses bit presence
+            # last layer is "self" and may be a complex type
+            if i == len(ref) - 1 and self.presence_type() != 'bit':
+                continue
+            code.append(presence + ' = 1;')
         code += self._setter_lines(ri, member, presence)
 
         func_name = f"{op_prefix(ri, direction, deref=deref)}_set_{'_'.join(ref)}"