diff --git a/net/batman-adv/distributed-arp-table.c b/net/batman-adv/distributed-arp-table.c
index c40c9e02391b..a6fe4820f65b 100644
--- a/net/batman-adv/distributed-arp-table.c
+++ b/net/batman-adv/distributed-arp-table.c
@@ -546,7 +546,7 @@ static bool batadv_is_orig_node_eligible(struct batadv_dat_candidate *res,
 	 * the one with the lowest address
 	 */
 	if (tmp_max == max && max_orig_node &&
-	    batadv_compare_eth(candidate->orig, max_orig_node->orig))
+	    memcmp(candidate->orig, max_orig_node->orig, ETH_ALEN) >= 0)
 		goto out;
 
 	ret = true;