diff --git a/pkg/proxy/iptables/proxier.go b/pkg/proxy/iptables/proxier.go
index c8b49c1abe3..6a1ca47b21f 100644
--- a/pkg/proxy/iptables/proxier.go
+++ b/pkg/proxy/iptables/proxier.go
@@ -1499,7 +1499,7 @@ func (proxier *Proxier) syncProxyRules() {
 
 		// Prefer local ready endpoint chains, but fall back to ready terminating if none exist
 		localEndpointChains := localReadyEndpointChains
-		if len(localEndpointChains) == 0 {
+		if utilfeature.DefaultFeatureGate.Enabled(features.ProxyTerminatingEndpoints) && len(localEndpointChains) == 0 {
 			localEndpointChains = localServingTerminatingEndpointChains
 		}