diff --git a/src/libnm-platform/nm-platform.c b/src/libnm-platform/nm-platform.c
index 853157d204..86e193dc0c 100644
--- a/src/libnm-platform/nm-platform.c
+++ b/src/libnm-platform/nm-platform.c
@@ -3211,7 +3211,6 @@ gboolean
 nm_platform_link_veth_get_properties(NMPlatform *self, int ifindex, int *out_peer_ifindex)
 {
     const NMPlatformLink *plink;
-    int                   peer_ifindex;
 
     plink = nm_platform_link_get(self, ifindex);
     if (!plink)
@@ -3220,23 +3219,10 @@ nm_platform_link_veth_get_properties(NMPlatform *self, int ifindex, int *out_pee
     if (plink->type != NM_LINK_TYPE_VETH)
         return FALSE;
 
-    if (plink->parent != 0) {
-        NM_SET_OUT(out_peer_ifindex, plink->parent);
-        return TRUE;
-    }
+    if (plink->parent == 0)
+        return FALSE;
 
-    /* Pre-4.1 kernel did not expose the peer_ifindex as IFA_LINK. Lookup via ethtool. */
-    if (out_peer_ifindex) {
-        nm_auto_pop_netns NMPNetns *netns = NULL;
-
-        if (!nm_platform_netns_push(self, &netns))
-            return FALSE;
-        peer_ifindex = nmp_ethtool_ioctl_get_peer_ifindex(plink->ifindex);
-        if (peer_ifindex <= 0)
-            return FALSE;
-
-        *out_peer_ifindex = peer_ifindex;
-    }
+    NM_SET_OUT(out_peer_ifindex, plink->parent);
     return TRUE;
 }
 
diff --git a/src/libnm-platform/nmp-ethtool-ioctl.c b/src/libnm-platform/nmp-ethtool-ioctl.c
index 830b02f6cc..9694eaecb1 100644
--- a/src/libnm-platform/nmp-ethtool-ioctl.c
+++ b/src/libnm-platform/nmp-ethtool-ioctl.c
@@ -1190,33 +1190,6 @@ nmp_ethtool_ioctl_supports_vlans(int ifindex)
     return !(features->features[block].active & (1 << bit));
 }
 
-int
-nmp_ethtool_ioctl_get_peer_ifindex(int ifindex)
-{
-    nm_auto_socket_handle SocketHandle shandle = SOCKET_HANDLE_INIT(ifindex);
-    gsize                              stats_len;
-    gs_free struct ethtool_stats      *stats_free = NULL;
-    struct ethtool_stats              *stats;
-    int                                peer_ifindex_stat;
-
-    g_return_val_if_fail(ifindex > 0, 0);
-
-    peer_ifindex_stat = ethtool_get_stringset_index(&shandle, ETH_SS_STATS, "peer_ifindex");
-    if (peer_ifindex_stat < 0) {
-        nm_log_dbg(LOGD_PLATFORM, "ethtool[%d]: peer_ifindex stat does not exist?", ifindex);
-        return FALSE;
-    }
-
-    stats_len      = sizeof(*stats) + (peer_ifindex_stat + 1) * sizeof(guint64);
-    stats          = nm_malloc0_maybe_a(300, stats_len, &stats_free);
-    stats->cmd     = ETHTOOL_GSTATS;
-    stats->n_stats = peer_ifindex_stat + 1;
-    if (_ethtool_call_handle(&shandle, stats, stats_len) < 0)
-        return 0;
-
-    return stats->data[peer_ifindex_stat];
-}
-
 gboolean
 nmp_ethtool_ioctl_get_wake_on_lan(int ifindex)
 {
diff --git a/src/libnm-platform/nmp-ethtool-ioctl.h b/src/libnm-platform/nmp-ethtool-ioctl.h
index cb93e9cf55..1c973649eb 100644
--- a/src/libnm-platform/nmp-ethtool-ioctl.h
+++ b/src/libnm-platform/nmp-ethtool-ioctl.h
@@ -9,8 +9,6 @@ gboolean nmp_ethtool_ioctl_supports_carrier_detect(int ifindex);
 
 gboolean nmp_ethtool_ioctl_supports_vlans(int ifindex);
 
-int nmp_ethtool_ioctl_get_peer_ifindex(int ifindex);
-
 gboolean nmp_ethtool_ioctl_get_wake_on_lan(int ifindex);
 
 gboolean nmp_ethtool_ioctl_set_wake_on_lan(int                      ifindex,