diff --git a/client/firewall/nftables/router_linux.go b/client/firewall/nftables/router_linux.go
index 6192c92aa..e4debc179 100644
--- a/client/firewall/nftables/router_linux.go
+++ b/client/firewall/nftables/router_linux.go
@@ -91,11 +91,7 @@ func newRouter(workTable *nftables.Table, wgIface iFaceMapper, mtu uint16) (*rou
 	var err error
 	r.filterTable, err = r.loadFilterTable()
 	if err != nil {
-		if errors.Is(err, errFilterTableNotFound) {
-			log.Warnf("table 'filter' not found for forward rules")
-		} else {
-			return nil, fmt.Errorf("load filter table: %w", err)
-		}
+		log.Warnf("failed to load filter table, skipping accept rules: %v", err)
 	}
 
 	return r, nil
@@ -175,7 +171,7 @@ func (r *router) removeNatPreroutingRules() error {
 func (r *router) loadFilterTable() (*nftables.Table, error) {
 	tables, err := r.conn.ListTablesOfFamily(nftables.TableFamilyIPv4)
 	if err != nil {
-		return nil, fmt.Errorf("unable to list tables: %v", err)
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("list tables: %w", err)
 	}
 
 	for _, table := range tables {
@@ -193,8 +189,6 @@ func (r *router) createContainers() error {
 		Table: r.workTable,
 	})
 
-	insertReturnTrafficRule(r.conn, r.workTable, r.chains[chainNameRoutingFw])
-
 	prio := *nftables.ChainPriorityNATSource - 1
 	r.chains[chainNameRoutingNat] = r.conn.AddChain(&nftables.Chain{
 		Name:     chainNameRoutingNat,
@@ -236,9 +230,12 @@ func (r *router) createContainers() error {
 		Type:     nftables.ChainTypeFilter,
 	})
 
-	// Add the single NAT rule that matches on mark
-	if err := r.addPostroutingRules(); err != nil {
-		return fmt.Errorf("add single nat rule: %v", err)
+	insertReturnTrafficRule(r.conn, r.workTable, r.chains[chainNameRoutingFw])
+
+	r.addPostroutingRules()
+
+	if err := r.conn.Flush(); err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("initialize tables: %v", err)
 	}
 
 	if err := r.addMSSClampingRules(); err != nil {
@@ -250,11 +247,7 @@ func (r *router) createContainers() error {
 	}
 
 	if err := r.refreshRulesMap(); err != nil {
-		log.Errorf("failed to clean up rules from FORWARD chain: %s", err)
-	}
-
-	if err := r.conn.Flush(); err != nil {
-		return fmt.Errorf("initialize tables: %v", err)
+		log.Errorf("failed to refresh rules: %s", err)
 	}
 
 	return nil
@@ -695,7 +688,7 @@ func (r *router) addNatRule(pair firewall.RouterPair) error {
 }
 
 // addPostroutingRules adds the masquerade rules
-func (r *router) addPostroutingRules() error {
+func (r *router) addPostroutingRules() {
 	// First masquerade rule for traffic coming in from WireGuard interface
 	exprs := []expr.Any{
 		// Match on the first fwmark
@@ -761,8 +754,6 @@ func (r *router) addPostroutingRules() error {
 		Chain: r.chains[chainNameRoutingNat],
 		Exprs: exprs2,
 	})
-
-	return nil
 }
 
 // addMSSClampingRules adds MSS clamping rules to prevent fragmentation for forwarded traffic.
@@ -839,7 +830,7 @@ func (r *router) addMSSClampingRules() error {
 		Exprs: exprsOut,
 	})
 
-	return nil
+	return r.conn.Flush()
 }
 
 // addLegacyRouteRule adds a legacy routing rule for mgmt servers pre route acls
@@ -1068,7 +1059,7 @@ func (r *router) acceptFilterRulesNftables() error {
 	}
 	r.conn.InsertRule(inputRule)
 
-	return nil
+	return r.conn.Flush()
 }
 
 func (r *router) removeAcceptFilterRules() error {
@@ -1196,7 +1187,7 @@ func (r *router) refreshRulesMap() error {
 	for _, chain := range r.chains {
 		rules, err := r.conn.GetRules(chain.Table, chain)
 		if err != nil {
-			return fmt.Errorf(" unable to list rules: %v", err)
+			return fmt.Errorf("list rules: %w", err)
 		}
 		for _, rule := range rules {
 			if len(rule.UserData) > 0 {