diff --git a/vmware_nsx/plugins/common/plugin.py b/vmware_nsx/plugins/common/plugin.py
index d8f0ad97c5..01b2dc3bfb 100644
--- a/vmware_nsx/plugins/common/plugin.py
+++ b/vmware_nsx/plugins/common/plugin.py
@@ -327,7 +327,7 @@ class NsxPluginBase(db_base_plugin_v2.NeutronDbPluginV2,
             context, router_id, routes)
         # do not allow adding a default route. NSX-v/v3 don't support it
         for route in routes:
-            if route.get('destination') == '0.0.0.0/0':
+            if route.get('destination', '').startswith('0.0.0.0/'):
                 msg = _("Cannot set a default route using static routes")
                 raise n_exc.BadRequest(resource='router', msg=msg)
 
diff --git a/vmware_nsx/tests/unit/nsx_v3/test_plugin.py b/vmware_nsx/tests/unit/nsx_v3/test_plugin.py
index eb5c037b85..62ee1208fb 100644
--- a/vmware_nsx/tests/unit/nsx_v3/test_plugin.py
+++ b/vmware_nsx/tests/unit/nsx_v3/test_plugin.py
@@ -1762,6 +1762,22 @@ class TestL3NatTestCase(L3NatTest,
             az_hints = rtr['router']['availability_zone_hints']
             self.assertListEqual(zone, az_hints)
 
+    def _test_route_update_illegal(self, destination):
+        routes = [{'destination': destination, 'nexthop': '10.0.1.3'}]
+        with self.router() as r:
+            with self.subnet(cidr='10.0.1.0/24') as s:
+                fixed_ip_data = [{'ip_address': '10.0.1.2'}]
+                with self.port(subnet=s, fixed_ips=fixed_ip_data) as p:
+                    self._router_interface_action(
+                        'add', r['router']['id'], None, p['port']['id'])
+                    self._update('routers', r['router']['id'],
+                                 {'router': {'routes': routes}},
+                                 expected_code=400)
+
+    def test_route_update_illegal(self):
+        self._test_route_update_illegal('0.0.0.0/0')
+        self._test_route_update_illegal('0.0.0.0/16')
+
 
 class ExtGwModeTestCase(test_ext_gw_mode.ExtGwModeIntTestCase,
                         L3NatTest):