diff --git a/pimd/pim_msdp.c b/pimd/pim_msdp.c
index 1fd27d383e..2192aa9831 100644
--- a/pimd/pim_msdp.c
+++ b/pimd/pim_msdp.c
@@ -1028,10 +1028,11 @@ struct pim_msdp_peer *pim_msdp_peer_add(struct pim_instance *pim,
 	mp->peer = *peer;
 	pim_inet4_dump("<peer?>", mp->peer, mp->key_str, sizeof(mp->key_str));
 	mp->local = *local;
-	if (mesh_group_name)
+	if (mesh_group_name) {
 		mp->mesh_group_name =
 			XSTRDUP(MTYPE_PIM_MSDP_MG_NAME, mesh_group_name);
-
+		SET_FLAG(mp->flags, PIM_MSDP_PEERF_IN_GROUP);
+	}
 	mp->state = PIM_MSDP_INACTIVE;
 	mp->fd = -1;
 	mp->auth_listen_sock = -1;