diff --git a/client/firewall/nftables/external_chain_monitor_integration_linux_test.go b/client/firewall/nftables/external_chain_monitor_integration_linux_test.go
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..3c4e3f44d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/client/firewall/nftables/external_chain_monitor_integration_linux_test.go
@@ -0,0 +1,76 @@
+//go:build linux
+
+package nftables
+
+import (
+	"os"
+	"sync/atomic"
+	"testing"
+	"time"
+
+	"github.com/google/nftables"
+	"github.com/stretchr/testify/require"
+)
+
+// TestExternalChainMonitorRootIntegration verifies that adding a new chain
+// in an external (non-netbird) filter table triggers the reconciler.
+// Requires CAP_NET_ADMIN; skip otherwise.
+func TestExternalChainMonitorRootIntegration(t *testing.T) {
+	if os.Geteuid() != 0 {
+		t.Skip("root required")
+	}
+
+	calls := make(chan struct{}, 8)
+	var count atomic.Int32
+	rec := &countingReconciler{calls: calls, count: &count}
+
+	m := newExternalChainMonitor(rec)
+	m.start()
+	t.Cleanup(m.stop)
+
+	// Give the netlink subscription a moment to register.
+	time.Sleep(200 * time.Millisecond)
+
+	conn := &nftables.Conn{}
+	table := conn.AddTable(&nftables.Table{
+		Name:   "nbmon_integration_test",
+		Family: nftables.TableFamilyINet,
+	})
+	t.Cleanup(func() {
+		cleanup := &nftables.Conn{}
+		cleanup.DelTable(table)
+		_ = cleanup.Flush()
+	})
+
+	chain := conn.AddChain(&nftables.Chain{
+		Name:     "filter_INPUT",
+		Table:    table,
+		Hooknum:  nftables.ChainHookInput,
+		Priority: nftables.ChainPriorityFilter,
+		Type:     nftables.ChainTypeFilter,
+	})
+	_ = chain
+	require.NoError(t, conn.Flush(), "create external test chain")
+
+	select {
+	case <-calls:
+		// success
+	case <-time.After(3 * time.Second):
+		t.Fatalf("reconcile was not invoked after creating an external chain")
+	}
+	require.GreaterOrEqual(t, count.Load(), int32(1))
+}
+
+type countingReconciler struct {
+	calls chan struct{}
+	count *atomic.Int32
+}
+
+func (c *countingReconciler) reconcileExternalChains() error {
+	c.count.Add(1)
+	select {
+	case c.calls <- struct{}{}:
+	default:
+	}
+	return nil
+}
diff --git a/client/firewall/nftables/external_chain_monitor_linux.go b/client/firewall/nftables/external_chain_monitor_linux.go
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..2a2e04c09
--- /dev/null
+++ b/client/firewall/nftables/external_chain_monitor_linux.go
@@ -0,0 +1,199 @@
+package nftables
+
+import (
+	"context"
+	"errors"
+	"fmt"
+	"sync"
+	"time"
+
+	"github.com/cenkalti/backoff/v4"
+	"github.com/google/nftables"
+	log "github.com/sirupsen/logrus"
+)
+
+const (
+	externalMonitorReconcileDelay = 500 * time.Millisecond
+	externalMonitorInitInterval   = 5 * time.Second
+	externalMonitorMaxInterval    = 5 * time.Minute
+	externalMonitorRandomization  = 0.5
+)
+
+// externalChainReconciler re-applies passthrough accept rules to external
+// nftables chains. Implementations must be safe to call from the monitor
+// goroutine; the Manager locks its mutex internally.
+type externalChainReconciler interface {
+	reconcileExternalChains() error
+}
+
+// externalChainMonitor watches nftables netlink events and triggers a
+// reconcile when a new table or chain appears (e.g. after
+// `firewall-cmd --reload`). Netlink errors trigger exponential-backoff
+// reconnect.
+type externalChainMonitor struct {
+	reconciler externalChainReconciler
+
+	mu     sync.Mutex
+	cancel context.CancelFunc
+	done   chan struct{}
+}
+
+func newExternalChainMonitor(r externalChainReconciler) *externalChainMonitor {
+	return &externalChainMonitor{reconciler: r}
+}
+
+func (m *externalChainMonitor) start() {
+	m.mu.Lock()
+	defer m.mu.Unlock()
+
+	if m.cancel != nil {
+		return
+	}
+
+	ctx, cancel := context.WithCancel(context.Background())
+	m.cancel = cancel
+	m.done = make(chan struct{})
+
+	go m.run(ctx)
+}
+
+func (m *externalChainMonitor) stop() {
+	m.mu.Lock()
+	cancel := m.cancel
+	done := m.done
+	m.cancel = nil
+	m.done = nil
+	m.mu.Unlock()
+
+	if cancel == nil {
+		return
+	}
+	cancel()
+	<-done
+}
+
+func (m *externalChainMonitor) run(ctx context.Context) {
+	defer close(m.done)
+
+	bo := &backoff.ExponentialBackOff{
+		InitialInterval:     externalMonitorInitInterval,
+		RandomizationFactor: externalMonitorRandomization,
+		Multiplier:          backoff.DefaultMultiplier,
+		MaxInterval:         externalMonitorMaxInterval,
+		MaxElapsedTime:      0,
+		Clock:               backoff.SystemClock,
+	}
+	bo.Reset()
+
+	for ctx.Err() == nil {
+		err := m.watch(ctx)
+		if ctx.Err() != nil {
+			return
+		}
+
+		delay := bo.NextBackOff()
+		log.Warnf("external chain monitor: %v, reconnecting in %s", err, delay)
+		select {
+		case <-ctx.Done():
+			return
+		case <-time.After(delay):
+		}
+	}
+}
+
+func (m *externalChainMonitor) watch(ctx context.Context) error {
+	events, closeMon, err := m.subscribe()
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+	defer closeMon()
+
+	debounce := time.NewTimer(time.Hour)
+	if !debounce.Stop() {
+		<-debounce.C
+	}
+	defer debounce.Stop()
+
+	pending := false
+	for {
+		select {
+		case <-ctx.Done():
+			return nil
+		case <-debounce.C:
+			pending = false
+			m.reconcile()
+		case ev, ok := <-events:
+			if !ok {
+				return errors.New("monitor channel closed")
+			}
+			if ev.Error != nil {
+				return fmt.Errorf("monitor event: %w", ev.Error)
+			}
+			if !isRelevantMonitorEvent(ev) {
+				continue
+			}
+			resetDebounce(debounce, pending)
+			pending = true
+		}
+	}
+}
+
+func (m *externalChainMonitor) subscribe() (chan *nftables.MonitorEvent, func(), error) {
+	conn := &nftables.Conn{}
+	mon := nftables.NewMonitor(
+		nftables.WithMonitorAction(nftables.MonitorActionNew),
+		nftables.WithMonitorObject(nftables.MonitorObjectChains|nftables.MonitorObjectTables),
+	)
+	events, err := conn.AddMonitor(mon)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, nil, fmt.Errorf("add netlink monitor: %w", err)
+	}
+	return events, func() { _ = mon.Close() }, nil
+}
+
+// resetDebounce reschedules a pending debounce timer without leaking a stale
+// fire on its channel. pending must reflect whether the timer is armed.
+func resetDebounce(t *time.Timer, pending bool) {
+	if pending && !t.Stop() {
+		select {
+		case <-t.C:
+		default:
+		}
+	}
+	t.Reset(externalMonitorReconcileDelay)
+}
+
+func (m *externalChainMonitor) reconcile() {
+	if err := m.reconciler.reconcileExternalChains(); err != nil {
+		log.Warnf("reconcile external chain rules: %v", err)
+	}
+}
+
+// isRelevantMonitorEvent returns true for table/chain creation events on
+// families we care about. The reconciler filters to actual external filter
+// chains.
+func isRelevantMonitorEvent(ev *nftables.MonitorEvent) bool {
+	switch ev.Type {
+	case nftables.MonitorEventTypeNewChain:
+		chain, ok := ev.Data.(*nftables.Chain)
+		if !ok || chain == nil || chain.Table == nil {
+			return false
+		}
+		return isMonitoredFamily(chain.Table.Family)
+	case nftables.MonitorEventTypeNewTable:
+		table, ok := ev.Data.(*nftables.Table)
+		if !ok || table == nil {
+			return false
+		}
+		return isMonitoredFamily(table.Family)
+	}
+	return false
+}
+
+func isMonitoredFamily(family nftables.TableFamily) bool {
+	switch family {
+	case nftables.TableFamilyIPv4, nftables.TableFamilyIPv6, nftables.TableFamilyINet:
+		return true
+	}
+	return false
+}
diff --git a/client/firewall/nftables/external_chain_monitor_linux_test.go b/client/firewall/nftables/external_chain_monitor_linux_test.go
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..1a37faca2
--- /dev/null
+++ b/client/firewall/nftables/external_chain_monitor_linux_test.go
@@ -0,0 +1,137 @@
+package nftables
+
+import (
+	"testing"
+
+	"github.com/google/nftables"
+	"github.com/stretchr/testify/assert"
+)
+
+func TestIsMonitoredFamily(t *testing.T) {
+	tests := []struct {
+		family nftables.TableFamily
+		want   bool
+	}{
+		{nftables.TableFamilyIPv4, true},
+		{nftables.TableFamilyIPv6, true},
+		{nftables.TableFamilyINet, true},
+		{nftables.TableFamilyARP, false},
+		{nftables.TableFamilyBridge, false},
+		{nftables.TableFamilyNetdev, false},
+		{nftables.TableFamilyUnspecified, false},
+	}
+	for _, tc := range tests {
+		assert.Equal(t, tc.want, isMonitoredFamily(tc.family), "family=%d", tc.family)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestIsRelevantMonitorEvent(t *testing.T) {
+	inetTable := &nftables.Table{Name: "firewalld", Family: nftables.TableFamilyINet}
+	ipTable := &nftables.Table{Name: "filter", Family: nftables.TableFamilyIPv4}
+	arpTable := &nftables.Table{Name: "arp", Family: nftables.TableFamilyARP}
+
+	tests := []struct {
+		name string
+		ev   *nftables.MonitorEvent
+		want bool
+	}{
+		{
+			name: "new chain in inet firewalld",
+			ev: &nftables.MonitorEvent{
+				Type: nftables.MonitorEventTypeNewChain,
+				Data: &nftables.Chain{Name: "filter_INPUT", Table: inetTable},
+			},
+			want: true,
+		},
+		{
+			name: "new chain in ip filter",
+			ev: &nftables.MonitorEvent{
+				Type: nftables.MonitorEventTypeNewChain,
+				Data: &nftables.Chain{Name: "INPUT", Table: ipTable},
+			},
+			want: true,
+		},
+		{
+			name: "new chain in unwatched arp family",
+			ev: &nftables.MonitorEvent{
+				Type: nftables.MonitorEventTypeNewChain,
+				Data: &nftables.Chain{Name: "x", Table: arpTable},
+			},
+			want: false,
+		},
+		{
+			name: "new table inet",
+			ev: &nftables.MonitorEvent{
+				Type: nftables.MonitorEventTypeNewTable,
+				Data: inetTable,
+			},
+			want: true,
+		},
+		{
+			name: "del chain (we only act on new)",
+			ev: &nftables.MonitorEvent{
+				Type: nftables.MonitorEventTypeDelChain,
+				Data: &nftables.Chain{Name: "filter_INPUT", Table: inetTable},
+			},
+			want: false,
+		},
+		{
+			name: "chain with nil table",
+			ev: &nftables.MonitorEvent{
+				Type: nftables.MonitorEventTypeNewChain,
+				Data: &nftables.Chain{Name: "x"},
+			},
+			want: false,
+		},
+		{
+			name: "nil data",
+			ev: &nftables.MonitorEvent{
+				Type: nftables.MonitorEventTypeNewChain,
+				Data: (*nftables.Chain)(nil),
+			},
+			want: false,
+		},
+	}
+
+	for _, tc := range tests {
+		t.Run(tc.name, func(t *testing.T) {
+			assert.Equal(t, tc.want, isRelevantMonitorEvent(tc.ev))
+		})
+	}
+}
+
+// fakeReconciler records reconcile invocations for debounce tests.
+type fakeReconciler struct {
+	calls chan struct{}
+}
+
+func (f *fakeReconciler) reconcileExternalChains() error {
+	f.calls <- struct{}{}
+	return nil
+}
+
+func TestExternalChainMonitorStopWithoutStart(t *testing.T) {
+	m := newExternalChainMonitor(&fakeReconciler{calls: make(chan struct{}, 1)})
+	// Must not panic or block.
+	m.stop()
+}
+
+func TestExternalChainMonitorDoubleStart(t *testing.T) {
+	// start() twice should be a no-op; stop() cleans up once.
+	// We avoid exercising the netlink watch loop here because it needs root.
+	m := newExternalChainMonitor(&fakeReconciler{calls: make(chan struct{}, 1)})
+
+	// Replace run with a stub that just waits for cancel, so start() stays
+	// deterministic without opening a netlink socket.
+	origDone := make(chan struct{})
+	m.done = origDone
+	m.cancel = func() { close(origDone) }
+
+	// Second start should be a no-op (cancel already set).
+	m.start()
+	assert.NotNil(t, m.cancel)
+
+	m.stop()
+	assert.Nil(t, m.cancel)
+	assert.Nil(t, m.done)
+}
diff --git a/client/firewall/nftables/manager_linux.go b/client/firewall/nftables/manager_linux.go
index e53209ecc..68b2f2b1a 100644
--- a/client/firewall/nftables/manager_linux.go
+++ b/client/firewall/nftables/manager_linux.go
@@ -59,6 +59,8 @@ type Manager struct {
 
 	notrackOutputChain     *nftables.Chain
 	notrackPreroutingChain *nftables.Chain
+
+	extMonitor *externalChainMonitor
 }
 
 // Create nftables firewall manager
@@ -88,6 +90,8 @@ func Create(wgIface iFaceMapper, mtu uint16) (*Manager, error) {
 		}
 	}
 
+	m.extMonitor = newExternalChainMonitor(m)
+
 	return m, nil
 }
 
@@ -142,9 +146,34 @@ func (m *Manager) Init(stateManager *statemanager.Manager) error {
 
 	m.persistState(stateManager)
 
+	// Start after initFirewall has installed the baseline external-chain
+	// accept rules. start() is idempotent across Init/Close/Init cycles.
+	m.extMonitor.start()
+
 	return nil
 }
 
+// reconcileExternalChains re-applies passthrough accept rules to external
+// filter chains for both IPv4 and IPv6 routers. Called by the monitor when
+// tables or chains appear (e.g. after firewalld reloads).
+func (m *Manager) reconcileExternalChains() error {
+	m.mutex.Lock()
+	defer m.mutex.Unlock()
+
+	var merr *multierror.Error
+	if m.router != nil {
+		if err := m.router.acceptExternalChainsRules(); err != nil {
+			merr = multierror.Append(merr, fmt.Errorf("v4: %w", err))
+		}
+	}
+	if m.hasIPv6() {
+		if err := m.router6.acceptExternalChainsRules(); err != nil {
+			merr = multierror.Append(merr, fmt.Errorf("v6: %w", err))
+		}
+	}
+	return nberrors.FormatErrorOrNil(merr)
+}
+
 func (m *Manager) initFirewall() error {
 	workTable, err := m.createWorkTable()
 	if err != nil {
@@ -409,6 +438,8 @@ func (m *Manager) SetLegacyManagement(isLegacy bool) error {
 
 // Close closes the firewall manager
 func (m *Manager) Close(stateManager *statemanager.Manager) error {
+	m.extMonitor.stop()
+
 	m.mutex.Lock()
 	defer m.mutex.Unlock()
 
diff --git a/client/firewall/nftables/router_linux.go b/client/firewall/nftables/router_linux.go
index dc714fb5c..530db5e82 100644
--- a/client/firewall/nftables/router_linux.go
+++ b/client/firewall/nftables/router_linux.go
@@ -1157,83 +1157,122 @@ func (r *router) acceptExternalChainsRules() error {
 	}
 
 	intf := ifname(r.wgIface.Name())
-
 	for _, chain := range chains {
-		if chain.Hooknum == nil {
-			log.Debugf("skipping external chain %s/%s: hooknum is nil", chain.Table.Name, chain.Name)
-			continue
-		}
-
-		log.Debugf("adding accept rules to external %s chain: %s %s/%s",
-			hookName(chain.Hooknum), familyName(chain.Table.Family), chain.Table.Name, chain.Name)
-
-		switch *chain.Hooknum {
-		case *nftables.ChainHookForward:
-			r.insertForwardAcceptRules(chain, intf)
-		case *nftables.ChainHookInput:
-			r.insertInputAcceptRule(chain, intf)
-		}
+		r.applyExternalChainAccept(chain, intf)
 	}
 
 	if err := r.conn.Flush(); err != nil {
 		return fmt.Errorf("flush external chain rules: %w", err)
 	}
-
 	return nil
 }
 
+func (r *router) applyExternalChainAccept(chain *nftables.Chain, intf []byte) {
+	if chain.Hooknum == nil {
+		log.Debugf("skipping external chain %s/%s: hooknum is nil", chain.Table.Name, chain.Name)
+		return
+	}
+
+	log.Debugf("adding accept rules to external %s chain: %s %s/%s",
+		hookName(chain.Hooknum), familyName(chain.Table.Family), chain.Table.Name, chain.Name)
+
+	switch *chain.Hooknum {
+	case *nftables.ChainHookForward:
+		r.insertForwardAcceptRules(chain, intf)
+	case *nftables.ChainHookInput:
+		r.insertInputAcceptRule(chain, intf)
+	}
+}
+
 func (r *router) insertForwardAcceptRules(chain *nftables.Chain, intf []byte) {
-	iifRule := &nftables.Rule{
+	existing, err := r.existingNetbirdRulesInChain(chain)
+	if err != nil {
+		log.Warnf("skip forward accept rules in %s/%s: %v", chain.Table.Name, chain.Name, err)
+		return
+	}
+	r.insertForwardIifRule(chain, intf, existing)
+	r.insertForwardOifEstablishedRule(chain, intf, existing)
+}
+
+func (r *router) insertForwardIifRule(chain *nftables.Chain, intf []byte, existing map[string]bool) {
+	if existing[userDataAcceptForwardRuleIif] {
+		return
+	}
+	r.conn.InsertRule(&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:     intf,
-			},
+			&expr.Cmp{Op: expr.CmpOpEq, Register: 1, Data: intf},
 			&expr.Counter{},
 			&expr.Verdict{Kind: expr.VerdictAccept},
 		},
 		UserData: []byte(userDataAcceptForwardRuleIif),
-	}
-	r.conn.InsertRule(iifRule)
+	})
+}
 
-	oifExprs := []expr.Any{
-		&expr.Meta{Key: expr.MetaKeyOIFNAME, Register: 1},
-		&expr.Cmp{
-			Op:       expr.CmpOpEq,
-			Register: 1,
-			Data:     intf,
-		},
+func (r *router) insertForwardOifEstablishedRule(chain *nftables.Chain, intf []byte, existing map[string]bool) {
+	if existing[userDataAcceptForwardRuleOif] {
+		return
 	}
-	oifRule := &nftables.Rule{
+	exprs := []expr.Any{
+		&expr.Meta{Key: expr.MetaKeyOIFNAME, Register: 1},
+		&expr.Cmp{Op: expr.CmpOpEq, Register: 1, Data: intf},
+	}
+	r.conn.InsertRule(&nftables.Rule{
 		Table:    chain.Table,
 		Chain:    chain,
-		Exprs:    append(oifExprs, getEstablishedExprs(2)...),
+		Exprs:    append(exprs, getEstablishedExprs(2)...),
 		UserData: []byte(userDataAcceptForwardRuleOif),
-	}
-	r.conn.InsertRule(oifRule)
+	})
 }
 
 func (r *router) insertInputAcceptRule(chain *nftables.Chain, intf []byte) {
-	inputRule := &nftables.Rule{
+	existing, err := r.existingNetbirdRulesInChain(chain)
+	if err != nil {
+		log.Warnf("skip input accept rule in %s/%s: %v", chain.Table.Name, chain.Name, err)
+		return
+	}
+	if existing[userDataAcceptInputRule] {
+		return
+	}
+	r.conn.InsertRule(&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:     intf,
-			},
+			&expr.Cmp{Op: expr.CmpOpEq, Register: 1, Data: intf},
 			&expr.Counter{},
 			&expr.Verdict{Kind: expr.VerdictAccept},
 		},
 		UserData: []byte(userDataAcceptInputRule),
+	})
+}
+
+// existingNetbirdRulesInChain returns the set of netbird-owned UserData tags present in a chain; callers must bail on error since InsertRule is additive.
+func (r *router) existingNetbirdRulesInChain(chain *nftables.Chain) (map[string]bool, error) {
+	rules, err := r.conn.GetRules(chain.Table, chain)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("list rules: %w", err)
 	}
-	r.conn.InsertRule(inputRule)
+	present := map[string]bool{}
+	for _, rule := range rules {
+		if !isNetbirdAcceptRuleTag(rule.UserData) {
+			continue
+		}
+		present[string(rule.UserData)] = true
+	}
+	return present, nil
+}
+
+func isNetbirdAcceptRuleTag(userData []byte) bool {
+	switch string(userData) {
+	case userDataAcceptForwardRuleIif,
+		userDataAcceptForwardRuleOif,
+		userDataAcceptInputRule:
+		return true
+	}
+	return false
 }
 
 func (r *router) removeAcceptFilterRules() error {