diff --git a/examples/ip_pipeline/thread.c b/examples/ip_pipeline/thread.c
index d2daacc168..a3cd3c0d49 100644
--- a/examples/ip_pipeline/thread.c
+++ b/examples/ip_pipeline/thread.c
@@ -1672,6 +1672,7 @@ pipeline_table_rule_delete(const char *pipeline_name,
 	struct table_rule_match *match)
 {
 	struct pipeline *p;
+	struct table *table;
 	struct pipeline_msg_req *req;
 	struct pipeline_msg_rsp *rsp;
 	int status;
@@ -1687,6 +1688,8 @@ pipeline_table_rule_delete(const char *pipeline_name,
 		match_check(match, p, table_id))
 		return -1;
 
+	table = &p->table[table_id];
+
 	if (!pipeline_is_running(p)) {
 		union table_rule_match_low_level match_ll;
 		int key_found;
@@ -1701,6 +1704,9 @@ pipeline_table_rule_delete(const char *pipeline_name,
 				&key_found,
 				NULL);
 
+		if (status == 0)
+			table_rule_delete(table, match);
+
 		return status;
 	}
 
@@ -1721,6 +1727,8 @@ pipeline_table_rule_delete(const char *pipeline_name,
 
 	/* Read response */
 	status = rsp->status;
+	if (status == 0)
+		table_rule_delete(table, match);
 
 	/* Free response */
 	pipeline_msg_free(rsp);