diff --git a/client/firewall/manager/firewall.go b/client/firewall/manager/firewall.go
index 7ee33118b..72e6a5c68 100644
--- a/client/firewall/manager/firewall.go
+++ b/client/firewall/manager/firewall.go
@@ -100,6 +100,9 @@ type Manager interface {
 	//
 	// If comment argument is empty firewall manager should set
 	// rule ID as comment for the rule
+	//
+	// Note: Callers should call Flush() after adding rules to ensure
+	// they are applied to the kernel and rule handles are refreshed.
 	AddPeerFiltering(
 		id []byte,
 		ip net.IP,
diff --git a/client/firewall/nftables/acl_linux.go b/client/firewall/nftables/acl_linux.go
index 9ff5b8c92..a9d066e2f 100644
--- a/client/firewall/nftables/acl_linux.go
+++ b/client/firewall/nftables/acl_linux.go
@@ -29,8 +29,6 @@ const (
 	chainNameForwardFilter     = "netbird-acl-forward-filter"
 	chainNameManglePrerouting  = "netbird-mangle-prerouting"
 	chainNameManglePostrouting = "netbird-mangle-postrouting"
-
-	allowNetbirdInputRuleID = "allow Netbird incoming traffic"
 )
 
 const flushError = "flush: %w"
@@ -195,25 +193,6 @@ func (m *AclManager) DeletePeerRule(rule firewall.Rule) error {
 // createDefaultAllowRules creates default allow rules for the input and output chains
 func (m *AclManager) createDefaultAllowRules() error {
 	expIn := []expr.Any{
-		&expr.Payload{
-			DestRegister: 1,
-			Base:         expr.PayloadBaseNetworkHeader,
-			Offset:       12,
-			Len:          4,
-		},
-		// mask
-		&expr.Bitwise{
-			SourceRegister: 1,
-			DestRegister:   1,
-			Len:            4,
-			Mask:           []byte{0, 0, 0, 0},
-			Xor:            []byte{0, 0, 0, 0},
-		},
-		// net address
-		&expr.Cmp{
-			Register: 1,
-			Data:     []byte{0, 0, 0, 0},
-		},
 		&expr.Verdict{
 			Kind: expr.VerdictAccept,
 		},
@@ -258,7 +237,7 @@ func (m *AclManager) addIOFiltering(
 	action firewall.Action,
 	ipset *nftables.Set,
 ) (*Rule, error) {
-	ruleId := generatePeerRuleId(ip, sPort, dPort, action, ipset)
+	ruleId := generatePeerRuleId(ip, proto, sPort, dPort, action, ipset)
 	if r, ok := m.rules[ruleId]; ok {
 		return &Rule{
 			nftRule:    r.nftRule,
@@ -357,11 +336,12 @@ func (m *AclManager) addIOFiltering(
 	}
 
 	if err := m.rConn.Flush(); err != nil {
-		return nil, fmt.Errorf(flushError, err)
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("flush input rule %s: %v", ruleId, err)
 	}
 
 	ruleStruct := &Rule{
-		nftRule:    nftRule,
+		nftRule: nftRule,
+		// best effort mangle rule
 		mangleRule: m.createPreroutingRule(expressions, userData),
 		nftSet:     ipset,
 		ruleID:     ruleId,
@@ -420,12 +400,19 @@ func (m *AclManager) createPreroutingRule(expressions []expr.Any, userData []byt
 		},
 	)
 
-	return m.rConn.AddRule(&nftables.Rule{
+	nfRule := m.rConn.AddRule(&nftables.Rule{
 		Table:    m.workTable,
 		Chain:    m.chainPrerouting,
 		Exprs:    preroutingExprs,
 		UserData: userData,
 	})
+
+	if err := m.rConn.Flush(); err != nil {
+		log.Errorf("failed to flush mangle rule %s: %v", string(userData), err)
+		return nil
+	}
+
+	return nfRule
 }
 
 func (m *AclManager) createDefaultChains() (err error) {
@@ -697,8 +684,8 @@ func (m *AclManager) refreshRuleHandles(chain *nftables.Chain, mangle bool) erro
 	return nil
 }
 
-func generatePeerRuleId(ip net.IP, sPort *firewall.Port, dPort *firewall.Port, action firewall.Action, ipset *nftables.Set) string {
-	rulesetID := ":"
+func generatePeerRuleId(ip net.IP, proto firewall.Protocol, sPort *firewall.Port, dPort *firewall.Port, action firewall.Action, ipset *nftables.Set) string {
+	rulesetID := ":" + string(proto) + ":"
 	if sPort != nil {
 		rulesetID += sPort.String()
 	}
diff --git a/client/firewall/nftables/manager_linux.go b/client/firewall/nftables/manager_linux.go
index d864914fe..bd19f1067 100644
--- a/client/firewall/nftables/manager_linux.go
+++ b/client/firewall/nftables/manager_linux.go
@@ -1,11 +1,11 @@
 package nftables
 
 import (
-	"bytes"
 	"context"
 	"fmt"
 	"net"
 	"net/netip"
+	"os"
 	"sync"
 
 	"github.com/google/nftables"
@@ -19,13 +19,22 @@ import (
 )
 
 const (
-	// tableNameNetbird is the name of the table that is used for filtering by the Netbird client
+	// tableNameNetbird is the default name of the table that is used for filtering by the Netbird client
 	tableNameNetbird = "netbird"
+	// envTableName is the environment variable to override the table name
+	envTableName = "NB_NFTABLES_TABLE"
 
 	tableNameFilter = "filter"
 	chainNameInput  = "INPUT"
 )
 
+func getTableName() string {
+	if name := os.Getenv(envTableName); name != "" {
+		return name
+	}
+	return tableNameNetbird
+}
+
 // iFaceMapper defines subset methods of interface required for manager
 type iFaceMapper interface {
 	Name() string
@@ -50,7 +59,7 @@ func Create(wgIface iFaceMapper, mtu uint16) (*Manager, error) {
 		wgIface: wgIface,
 	}
 
-	workTable := &nftables.Table{Name: tableNameNetbird, Family: nftables.TableFamilyIPv4}
+	workTable := &nftables.Table{Name: getTableName(), Family: nftables.TableFamilyIPv4}
 
 	var err error
 	m.router, err = newRouter(workTable, wgIface, mtu)
@@ -198,44 +207,11 @@ func (m *Manager) AllowNetbird() error {
 	m.mutex.Lock()
 	defer m.mutex.Unlock()
 
-	err := m.aclManager.createDefaultAllowRules()
-	if err != nil {
-		return fmt.Errorf("failed to create default allow rules: %v", err)
+	if err := m.aclManager.createDefaultAllowRules(); err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("create default allow rules: %w", err)
 	}
-
-	chains, err := m.rConn.ListChainsOfTableFamily(nftables.TableFamilyIPv4)
-	if err != nil {
-		return fmt.Errorf("list of chains: %w", err)
-	}
-
-	var chain *nftables.Chain
-	for _, c := range chains {
-		if c.Table.Name == tableNameFilter && c.Name == chainNameInput {
-			chain = c
-			break
-		}
-	}
-
-	if chain == nil {
-		log.Debugf("chain INPUT not found. Skipping add allow netbird rule")
-		return nil
-	}
-
-	rules, err := m.rConn.GetRules(chain.Table, chain)
-	if err != nil {
-		return fmt.Errorf("failed to get rules for the INPUT chain: %v", err)
-	}
-
-	if rule := m.detectAllowNetbirdRule(rules); rule != nil {
-		log.Debugf("allow netbird rule already exists: %v", rule)
-		return nil
-	}
-
-	m.applyAllowNetbirdRules(chain)
-
-	err = m.rConn.Flush()
-	if err != nil {
-		return fmt.Errorf("failed to flush allow input netbird rules: %v", err)
+	if err := m.rConn.Flush(); err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("flush allow input netbird rules: %w", err)
 	}
 
 	return nil
@@ -251,10 +227,6 @@ func (m *Manager) Close(stateManager *statemanager.Manager) error {
 	m.mutex.Lock()
 	defer m.mutex.Unlock()
 
-	if err := m.resetNetbirdInputRules(); err != nil {
-		return fmt.Errorf("reset netbird input rules: %v", err)
-	}
-
 	if err := m.router.Reset(); err != nil {
 		return fmt.Errorf("reset router: %v", err)
 	}
@@ -274,49 +246,15 @@ func (m *Manager) Close(stateManager *statemanager.Manager) error {
 	return nil
 }
 
-func (m *Manager) resetNetbirdInputRules() error {
-	chains, err := m.rConn.ListChains()
-	if err != nil {
-		return fmt.Errorf("list chains: %w", err)
-	}
-
-	m.deleteNetbirdInputRules(chains)
-
-	return nil
-}
-
-func (m *Manager) deleteNetbirdInputRules(chains []*nftables.Chain) {
-	for _, c := range chains {
-		if c.Table.Name == tableNameFilter && c.Name == chainNameInput {
-			rules, err := m.rConn.GetRules(c.Table, c)
-			if err != nil {
-				log.Errorf("get rules for chain %q: %v", c.Name, err)
-				continue
-			}
-
-			m.deleteMatchingRules(rules)
-		}
-	}
-}
-
-func (m *Manager) deleteMatchingRules(rules []*nftables.Rule) {
-	for _, r := range rules {
-		if bytes.Equal(r.UserData, []byte(allowNetbirdInputRuleID)) {
-			if err := m.rConn.DelRule(r); err != nil {
-				log.Errorf("delete rule: %v", err)
-			}
-		}
-	}
-}
-
 func (m *Manager) cleanupNetbirdTables() error {
 	tables, err := m.rConn.ListTables()
 	if err != nil {
 		return fmt.Errorf("list tables: %w", err)
 	}
 
+	tableName := getTableName()
 	for _, t := range tables {
-		if t.Name == tableNameNetbird {
+		if t.Name == tableName {
 			m.rConn.DelTable(t)
 		}
 	}
@@ -399,55 +337,18 @@ func (m *Manager) createWorkTable() (*nftables.Table, error) {
 		return nil, fmt.Errorf("list of tables: %w", err)
 	}
 
+	tableName := getTableName()
 	for _, t := range tables {
-		if t.Name == tableNameNetbird {
+		if t.Name == tableName {
 			m.rConn.DelTable(t)
 		}
 	}
 
-	table := m.rConn.AddTable(&nftables.Table{Name: tableNameNetbird, Family: nftables.TableFamilyIPv4})
+	table := m.rConn.AddTable(&nftables.Table{Name: getTableName(), Family: nftables.TableFamilyIPv4})
 	err = m.rConn.Flush()
 	return table, err
 }
 
-func (m *Manager) applyAllowNetbirdRules(chain *nftables.Chain) {
-	rule := &nftables.Rule{
-		Table: chain.Table,
-		Chain: chain,
-		Exprs: []expr.Any{
-			&expr.Meta{Key: expr.MetaKeyIIFNAME, Register: 1},
-			&expr.Cmp{
-				Op:       expr.CmpOpEq,
-				Register: 1,
-				Data:     ifname(m.wgIface.Name()),
-			},
-			&expr.Verdict{
-				Kind: expr.VerdictAccept,
-			},
-		},
-		UserData: []byte(allowNetbirdInputRuleID),
-	}
-	_ = m.rConn.InsertRule(rule)
-}
-
-func (m *Manager) detectAllowNetbirdRule(existedRules []*nftables.Rule) *nftables.Rule {
-	ifName := ifname(m.wgIface.Name())
-	for _, rule := range existedRules {
-		if rule.Table.Name == tableNameFilter && rule.Chain.Name == chainNameInput {
-			if len(rule.Exprs) < 4 {
-				if e, ok := rule.Exprs[0].(*expr.Meta); !ok || e.Key != expr.MetaKeyIIFNAME {
-					continue
-				}
-				if e, ok := rule.Exprs[1].(*expr.Cmp); !ok || e.Op != expr.CmpOpEq || !bytes.Equal(e.Data, ifName) {
-					continue
-				}
-				return rule
-			}
-		}
-	}
-	return nil
-}
-
 func insertReturnTrafficRule(conn *nftables.Conn, table *nftables.Table, chain *nftables.Chain) {
 	rule := &nftables.Rule{
 		Table: table,
diff --git a/client/firewall/nftables/router_linux.go b/client/firewall/nftables/router_linux.go
index 0a2c79186..6192c92aa 100644
--- a/client/firewall/nftables/router_linux.go
+++ b/client/firewall/nftables/router_linux.go
@@ -37,6 +37,7 @@ const (
 
 	userDataAcceptForwardRuleIif = "frwacceptiif"
 	userDataAcceptForwardRuleOif = "frwacceptoif"
+	userDataAcceptInputRule      = "inputaccept"
 
 	dnatSuffix = "_dnat"
 	snatSuffix = "_snat"
@@ -103,8 +104,8 @@ func newRouter(workTable *nftables.Table, wgIface iFaceMapper, mtu uint16) (*rou
 func (r *router) init(workTable *nftables.Table) error {
 	r.workTable = workTable
 
-	if err := r.removeAcceptForwardRules(); err != nil {
-		log.Errorf("failed to clean up rules from FORWARD chain: %s", err)
+	if err := r.removeAcceptFilterRules(); err != nil {
+		log.Errorf("failed to clean up rules from filter table: %s", err)
 	}
 
 	if err := r.createContainers(); err != nil {
@@ -118,15 +119,15 @@ func (r *router) init(workTable *nftables.Table) error {
 	return nil
 }
 
-// Reset cleans existing nftables default forward rules from the system
+// Reset cleans existing nftables filter table rules from the system
 func (r *router) Reset() error {
 	// clear without deleting the ipsets, the nf table will be deleted by the caller
 	r.ipsetCounter.Clear()
 
 	var merr *multierror.Error
 
-	if err := r.removeAcceptForwardRules(); err != nil {
-		merr = multierror.Append(merr, fmt.Errorf("remove accept forward rules: %w", err))
+	if err := r.removeAcceptFilterRules(); err != nil {
+		merr = multierror.Append(merr, fmt.Errorf("remove accept filter rules: %w", err))
 	}
 
 	if err := r.removeNatPreroutingRules(); err != nil {
@@ -936,6 +937,7 @@ func (r *router) RemoveAllLegacyRouteRules() error {
 // that our traffic is not dropped by existing rules there.
 // The existing FORWARD rules/policies decide outbound traffic towards our interface.
 // In case the FORWARD policy is set to "drop", we add an established/related rule to allow return traffic for the inbound rule.
+// This method also adds INPUT chain rules to allow traffic to the local interface.
 func (r *router) acceptForwardRules() error {
 	if r.filterTable == nil {
 		log.Debugf("table 'filter' not found for forward rules, skipping accept rules")
@@ -945,7 +947,7 @@ func (r *router) acceptForwardRules() error {
 	fw := "iptables"
 
 	defer func() {
-		log.Debugf("Used %s to add accept forward rules", fw)
+		log.Debugf("Used %s to add accept forward and input rules", fw)
 	}()
 
 	// Try iptables first and fallback to nftables if iptables is not available
@@ -955,22 +957,30 @@ func (r *router) acceptForwardRules() error {
 		log.Warnf("Will use nftables to manipulate the filter table because iptables is not available: %v", err)
 
 		fw = "nftables"
-		return r.acceptForwardRulesNftables()
+		return r.acceptFilterRulesNftables()
 	}
 
-	return r.acceptForwardRulesIptables(ipt)
+	return r.acceptFilterRulesIptables(ipt)
 }
 
-func (r *router) acceptForwardRulesIptables(ipt *iptables.IPTables) error {
+func (r *router) acceptFilterRulesIptables(ipt *iptables.IPTables) error {
 	var merr *multierror.Error
+
 	for _, rule := range r.getAcceptForwardRules() {
 		if err := ipt.Insert("filter", chainNameForward, 1, rule...); err != nil {
-			merr = multierror.Append(err, fmt.Errorf("add iptables rule: %v", err))
+			merr = multierror.Append(err, fmt.Errorf("add iptables forward rule: %v", err))
 		} else {
-			log.Debugf("added iptables rule: %v", rule)
+			log.Debugf("added iptables forward rule: %v", rule)
 		}
 	}
 
+	inputRule := r.getAcceptInputRule()
+	if err := ipt.Insert("filter", chainNameInput, 1, inputRule...); err != nil {
+		merr = multierror.Append(err, fmt.Errorf("add iptables input rule: %v", err))
+	} else {
+		log.Debugf("added iptables input rule: %v", inputRule)
+	}
+
 	return nberrors.FormatErrorOrNil(merr)
 }
 
@@ -982,10 +992,13 @@ func (r *router) getAcceptForwardRules() [][]string {
 	}
 }
 
-func (r *router) acceptForwardRulesNftables() error {
+func (r *router) getAcceptInputRule() []string {
+	return []string{"-i", r.wgIface.Name(), "-j", "ACCEPT"}
+}
+
+func (r *router) acceptFilterRulesNftables() error {
 	intf := ifname(r.wgIface.Name())
 
-	// Rule for incoming interface (iif) with counter
 	iifRule := &nftables.Rule{
 		Table: r.filterTable,
 		Chain: &nftables.Chain{
@@ -1018,11 +1031,10 @@ func (r *router) acceptForwardRulesNftables() error {
 		},
 	}
 
-	// Rule for outgoing interface (oif) with counter
 	oifRule := &nftables.Rule{
 		Table: r.filterTable,
 		Chain: &nftables.Chain{
-			Name:     "FORWARD",
+			Name:     chainNameForward,
 			Table:    r.filterTable,
 			Type:     nftables.ChainTypeFilter,
 			Hooknum:  nftables.ChainHookForward,
@@ -1031,35 +1043,60 @@ func (r *router) acceptForwardRulesNftables() error {
 		Exprs:    append(oifExprs, getEstablishedExprs(2)...),
 		UserData: []byte(userDataAcceptForwardRuleOif),
 	}
-
 	r.conn.InsertRule(oifRule)
 
+	inputRule := &nftables.Rule{
+		Table: r.filterTable,
+		Chain: &nftables.Chain{
+			Name:     chainNameInput,
+			Table:    r.filterTable,
+			Type:     nftables.ChainTypeFilter,
+			Hooknum:  nftables.ChainHookInput,
+			Priority: nftables.ChainPriorityFilter,
+		},
+		Exprs: []expr.Any{
+			&expr.Meta{Key: expr.MetaKeyIIFNAME, Register: 1},
+			&expr.Cmp{
+				Op:       expr.CmpOpEq,
+				Register: 1,
+				Data:     intf,
+			},
+			&expr.Counter{},
+			&expr.Verdict{Kind: expr.VerdictAccept},
+		},
+		UserData: []byte(userDataAcceptInputRule),
+	}
+	r.conn.InsertRule(inputRule)
+
 	return nil
 }
 
-func (r *router) removeAcceptForwardRules() error {
+func (r *router) removeAcceptFilterRules() error {
 	if r.filterTable == nil {
 		return nil
 	}
 
-	// Try iptables first and fallback to nftables if iptables is not available
 	ipt, err := iptables.New()
 	if err != nil {
 		log.Warnf("Will use nftables to manipulate the filter table because iptables is not available: %v", err)
-		return r.removeAcceptForwardRulesNftables()
+		return r.removeAcceptFilterRulesNftables()
 	}
 
-	return r.removeAcceptForwardRulesIptables(ipt)
+	return r.removeAcceptFilterRulesIptables(ipt)
 }
 
-func (r *router) removeAcceptForwardRulesNftables() error {
+func (r *router) removeAcceptFilterRulesNftables() error {
 	chains, err := r.conn.ListChainsOfTableFamily(nftables.TableFamilyIPv4)
 	if err != nil {
 		return fmt.Errorf("list chains: %v", err)
 	}
 
 	for _, chain := range chains {
-		if chain.Table.Name != r.filterTable.Name || chain.Name != chainNameForward {
+		if chain.Table.Name != r.filterTable.Name {
+			continue
+		}
+
+		if chain.Name != chainNameForward && chain.Name != chainNameInput {
 			continue
 		}
 
@@ -1070,7 +1107,8 @@ func (r *router) removeAcceptForwardRulesNftables() error {
 
 		for _, rule := range rules {
 			if bytes.Equal(rule.UserData, []byte(userDataAcceptForwardRuleIif)) ||
-				bytes.Equal(rule.UserData, []byte(userDataAcceptForwardRuleOif)) {
+				bytes.Equal(rule.UserData, []byte(userDataAcceptForwardRuleOif)) ||
+				bytes.Equal(rule.UserData, []byte(userDataAcceptInputRule)) {
 				if err := r.conn.DelRule(rule); err != nil {
 					return fmt.Errorf("delete rule: %v", err)
 				}
@@ -1085,14 +1123,20 @@ func (r *router) removeAcceptForwardRulesNftables() error {
 	return nil
 }
 
-func (r *router) removeAcceptForwardRulesIptables(ipt *iptables.IPTables) error {
+func (r *router) removeAcceptFilterRulesIptables(ipt *iptables.IPTables) error {
 	var merr *multierror.Error
+
 	for _, rule := range r.getAcceptForwardRules() {
 		if err := ipt.DeleteIfExists("filter", chainNameForward, rule...); err != nil {
-			merr = multierror.Append(err, fmt.Errorf("remove iptables rule: %v", err))
+			merr = multierror.Append(err, fmt.Errorf("remove iptables forward rule: %v", err))
 		}
 	}
 
+	inputRule := r.getAcceptInputRule()
+	if err := ipt.DeleteIfExists("filter", chainNameInput, inputRule...); err != nil {
+		merr = multierror.Append(err, fmt.Errorf("remove iptables input rule: %v", err))
+	}
+
 	return nberrors.FormatErrorOrNil(merr)
 }
 
diff --git a/client/internal/dnsfwd/manager.go b/client/internal/dnsfwd/manager.go
index b26836d17..58b88d9ef 100644
--- a/client/internal/dnsfwd/manager.go
+++ b/client/internal/dnsfwd/manager.go
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@ import (
 	nberrors "github.com/netbirdio/netbird/client/errors"
 	firewall "github.com/netbirdio/netbird/client/firewall/manager"
 	"github.com/netbirdio/netbird/client/iface/wgaddr"
+	nftypes "github.com/netbirdio/netbird/client/internal/netflow/types"
 	"github.com/netbirdio/netbird/client/internal/peer"
 	nbdns "github.com/netbirdio/netbird/dns"
 	"github.com/netbirdio/netbird/route"
@@ -134,6 +135,8 @@ func (m *Manager) Stop(ctx context.Context) error {
 		}
 	}
 
+	m.unregisterNetstackServices()
+
 	if err := m.dropDNSFirewall(); err != nil {
 		mErr = multierror.Append(mErr, err)
 	}
@@ -158,21 +161,50 @@ func (m *Manager) allowDNSFirewall() error {
 
 	dnsRules, err := m.firewall.AddPeerFiltering(nil, net.IP{0, 0, 0, 0}, firewall.ProtocolUDP, nil, dport, firewall.ActionAccept, "")
 	if err != nil {
-		log.Errorf("failed to add allow DNS router rules, err: %v", err)
-		return err
+		return fmt.Errorf("add udp firewall rule: %w", err)
 	}
-	m.fwRules = dnsRules
 
 	tcpRules, err := m.firewall.AddPeerFiltering(nil, net.IP{0, 0, 0, 0}, firewall.ProtocolTCP, nil, dport, firewall.ActionAccept, "")
 	if err != nil {
-		log.Errorf("failed to add allow DNS router rules, err: %v", err)
-		return err
+		return fmt.Errorf("add tcp firewall rule: %w", err)
 	}
+
+	if err := m.firewall.Flush(); err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("flush: %w", err)
+	}
+
+	m.fwRules = dnsRules
 	m.tcpRules = tcpRules
 
+	m.registerNetstackServices()
+
 	return nil
 }
 
+func (m *Manager) registerNetstackServices() {
+	if netstackNet := m.wgIface.GetNet(); netstackNet != nil {
+		if registrar, ok := m.firewall.(interface {
+			RegisterNetstackService(protocol nftypes.Protocol, port uint16)
+		}); ok {
+			registrar.RegisterNetstackService(nftypes.TCP, m.serverPort)
+			registrar.RegisterNetstackService(nftypes.UDP, m.serverPort)
+			log.Debugf("registered DNS forwarder service with netstack for UDP/TCP:%d", m.serverPort)
+		}
+	}
+}
+
+func (m *Manager) unregisterNetstackServices() {
+	if netstackNet := m.wgIface.GetNet(); netstackNet != nil {
+		if registrar, ok := m.firewall.(interface {
+			UnregisterNetstackService(protocol nftypes.Protocol, port uint16)
+		}); ok {
+			registrar.UnregisterNetstackService(nftypes.TCP, m.serverPort)
+			registrar.UnregisterNetstackService(nftypes.UDP, m.serverPort)
+			log.Debugf("unregistered DNS forwarder service with netstack for UDP/TCP:%d", m.serverPort)
+		}
+	}
+}
+
 func (m *Manager) dropDNSFirewall() error {
 	var mErr *multierror.Error
 	for _, rule := range m.fwRules {
diff --git a/client/internal/engine.go b/client/internal/engine.go
index 0c7bd9f0a..3c7d52cb3 100644
--- a/client/internal/engine.go
+++ b/client/internal/engine.go
@@ -298,17 +298,12 @@ func (e *Engine) Stop() error {
 		e.ingressGatewayMgr = nil
 	}
 
+	e.stopDNSForwarder()
+
 	if e.routeManager != nil {
 		e.routeManager.Stop(e.stateManager)
 	}
 
-	if e.dnsForwardMgr != nil {
-		if err := e.dnsForwardMgr.Stop(context.Background()); err != nil {
-			log.Errorf("failed to stop DNS forward: %v", err)
-		}
-		e.dnsForwardMgr = nil
-	}
-
 	if e.srWatcher != nil {
 		e.srWatcher.Close()
 	}
@@ -1873,7 +1868,6 @@ func (e *Engine) updateDNSForwarder(
 
 func (e *Engine) startDNSForwarder(fwdEntries []*dnsfwd.ForwarderEntry) {
 	e.dnsForwardMgr = dnsfwd.NewManager(e.firewall, e.statusRecorder, e.wgInterface)
-	e.registerDNSServices()
 
 	if err := e.dnsForwardMgr.Start(fwdEntries); err != nil {
 		log.Errorf("failed to start DNS forward: %v", err)
@@ -1893,34 +1887,9 @@ func (e *Engine) stopDNSForwarder() {
 		log.Errorf("failed to stop DNS forward: %v", err)
 	}
 
-	e.unregisterDNSServices()
 	e.dnsForwardMgr = nil
 }
 
-func (e *Engine) registerDNSServices() {
-	if netstackNet := e.wgInterface.GetNet(); netstackNet != nil {
-		if registrar, ok := e.firewall.(interface {
-			RegisterNetstackService(protocol nftypes.Protocol, port uint16)
-		}); ok {
-			registrar.RegisterNetstackService(nftypes.UDP, nbdns.ForwarderServerPort)
-			registrar.RegisterNetstackService(nftypes.TCP, nbdns.ForwarderServerPort)
-			log.Debugf("registered DNS forwarder service with netstack for UDP/TCP:%d", nbdns.ForwarderServerPort)
-		}
-	}
-}
-
-func (e *Engine) unregisterDNSServices() {
-	if netstackNet := e.wgInterface.GetNet(); netstackNet != nil {
-		if registrar, ok := e.firewall.(interface {
-			UnregisterNetstackService(protocol nftypes.Protocol, port uint16)
-		}); ok {
-			registrar.UnregisterNetstackService(nftypes.UDP, nbdns.ForwarderServerPort)
-			registrar.UnregisterNetstackService(nftypes.TCP, nbdns.ForwarderServerPort)
-			log.Debugf("unregistered DNS forwarder service with netstack for UDP/TCP:%d", nbdns.ForwarderServerPort)
-		}
-	}
-}
-
 func (e *Engine) GetNet() (*netstack.Net, error) {
 	e.syncMsgMux.Lock()
 	intf := e.wgInterface