diff --git a/data/templates/load-balancing/nftables-wlb.j2 b/data/templates/load-balancing/nftables-wlb.j2
index 75604aca1..b3d7c3376 100644
--- a/data/templates/load-balancing/nftables-wlb.j2
+++ b/data/templates/load-balancing/nftables-wlb.j2
@@ -1,64 +1,64 @@
 #!/usr/sbin/nft -f
 
 {% if first_install is not vyos_defined %}
 delete table ip vyos_wanloadbalance
 {% endif %}
 table ip vyos_wanloadbalance {
     chain wlb_nat_postrouting {
         type nat hook postrouting priority srcnat - 1; policy accept;
 {% for ifname, health_conf in interface_health.items() if health_state[ifname].if_addr %}
 {%     if disable_source_nat is not vyos_defined %}
 {%         set state = health_state[ifname] %}
         ct mark {{ state.mark }} counter snat to {{ state.if_addr }}
 {%     endif %}
 {% endfor %}
     }
 
     chain wlb_mangle_prerouting {
         type filter hook prerouting priority mangle; policy accept;
 {% for ifname, health_conf in interface_health.items() %}
 {%     set state = health_state[ifname] %}
 {%     if sticky_connections is vyos_defined %}
         iifname "{{ ifname }}" ct state new ct mark set {{ state.mark }}
 {%     endif %}
 {% endfor %}
 {% if rule is vyos_defined %}
 {%     for rule_id, rule_conf in rule.items() %}
 {%         if rule_conf.exclude is vyos_defined %}
-        {{ rule_conf | wlb_nft_rule(rule_id, exclude=True, action='accept') }}
+        {{ rule_conf | wlb_nft_rule(rule_id, exclude=True, action='return') }}
 {%         else %}
 {%             set limit = rule_conf.limit is vyos_defined %}
         {{ rule_conf | wlb_nft_rule(rule_id, limit=limit, weight=True, health_state=health_state) }}
         {{ rule_conf | wlb_nft_rule(rule_id, restore_mark=True) }}
 {%         endif %}
 {%     endfor %}
 {% endif %}
     }
 
     chain wlb_mangle_output {
         type filter hook output priority -150; policy accept;
 {% if enable_local_traffic is vyos_defined %}
-        meta mark != 0x0 counter accept
-        meta l4proto icmp counter accept
-        ip saddr 127.0.0.0/8 ip daddr 127.0.0.0/8 counter accept
+        meta mark != 0x0 counter return
+        meta l4proto icmp counter return
+        ip saddr 127.0.0.0/8 ip daddr 127.0.0.0/8 counter return
 {%     if rule is vyos_defined %}
 {%         for rule_id, rule_conf in rule.items() %}
 {%             if rule_conf.exclude is vyos_defined  %}
-        {{ rule_conf | wlb_nft_rule(rule_id, local=True, exclude=True, action='accept') }}
+        {{ rule_conf | wlb_nft_rule(rule_id, local=True, exclude=True, action='return') }}
 {%             else %}
 {%                 set limit = rule_conf.limit is vyos_defined %}
         {{ rule_conf | wlb_nft_rule(rule_id, local=True, limit=limit, weight=True, health_state=health_state) }}
         {{ rule_conf | wlb_nft_rule(rule_id, local=True, restore_mark=True) }}
 {%             endif %}
 {%         endfor %}
 {%     endif %}
 {% endif %}
     }
 
 {% for ifname, health_conf in interface_health.items() %}
 {%     set state = health_state[ifname] %}
     chain wlb_mangle_isp_{{ ifname }} {
         meta mark set {{ state.mark }} ct mark set {{ state.mark }} counter accept
     }
 {% endfor %}
 }