diff --git a/include/uapi/linux/netfilter/xt_IDLETIMER.h b/include/uapi/linux/netfilter/xt_IDLETIMER.h
index 49ddcdc61c09..07ae4e189044 100644
--- a/include/uapi/linux/netfilter/xt_IDLETIMER.h
+++ b/include/uapi/linux/netfilter/xt_IDLETIMER.h
@@ -48,7 +48,7 @@ struct idletimer_tg_info_v1 {
 
 	char label[MAX_IDLETIMER_LABEL_SIZE];
 
-	__u8 send_nl_msg;   /* unused: for compatibility with Android */
+	__u8 send_nl_msg;
 	__u8 timer_type;
 
 	/* for kernel module internal use only */
diff --git a/net/netfilter/xt_IDLETIMER.c b/net/netfilter/xt_IDLETIMER.c
index 7b2f359bfce4..c63edb18e79b 100644
--- a/net/netfilter/xt_IDLETIMER.c
+++ b/net/netfilter/xt_IDLETIMER.c
@@ -346,9 +346,6 @@ static int idletimer_tg_checkentry_v1(const struct xt_tgchk_param *par)
 
 	pr_debug("checkentry targinfo%s\n", info->label);
 
-	if (info->send_nl_msg)
-		return -EOPNOTSUPP;
-
 	ret = idletimer_tg_helper((struct idletimer_tg_info *)info);
 	if(ret < 0)
 	{
@@ -361,6 +358,11 @@ static int idletimer_tg_checkentry_v1(const struct xt_tgchk_param *par)
 		return -EINVAL;
 	}
 
+	if (info->send_nl_msg > 1) {
+		pr_debug("invalid value for send_nl_msg\n");
+		return -EINVAL;
+	}
+
 	mutex_lock(&list_mutex);
 
 	info->timer = __idletimer_tg_find_by_label(info->label);