diff --git a/net/mptcp/protocol.c b/net/mptcp/protocol.c
index 9c95c361b95c..258dbfe9fad3 100644
--- a/net/mptcp/protocol.c
+++ b/net/mptcp/protocol.c
@@ -2309,7 +2309,7 @@ static struct sock *mptcp_subflow_get_retrans(struct mptcp_sock *msk)
 			continue;
 		}
 
-		if (subflow->backup) {
+		if (subflow->backup || subflow->request_bkup) {
 			if (!backup)
 				backup = ssk;
 			continue;