diff --git a/lib/attr.c b/lib/attr.c
index bdf3c0f..a76a284 100644
--- a/lib/attr.c
+++ b/lib/attr.c
@@ -796,7 +796,7 @@
 {
 	struct nlattr *start = (struct nlattr *) nlmsg_tail(msg->nm_nlh);
 
-	if (nla_put(msg, attrtype, 0, NULL) < 0)
+	if (nla_put(msg, NLA_F_NESTED | attrtype, 0, NULL) < 0)
 		return NULL;
 
 	NL_DBG(2, "msg %p: attr <%p> %d: starting nesting\n",