diff --git a/man/systemd.network.xml b/man/systemd.network.xml
index 1484c073ef..229449c5ac 100644
--- a/man/systemd.network.xml
+++ b/man/systemd.network.xml
@@ -1009,7 +1009,9 @@
         <varlistentry>
           <term><varname>IPProtocol=</varname></term>
           <listitem>
-            <para>Specifies the IP protocol to match in forwarding information base (FIB) rules. Accepted values are <literal>tcp</literal>, <literal>udp</literal> and <literal>sctp</literal>.
+            <para>Specifies the IP protocol to match in forwarding information base (FIB) rules. Takes IP protocol name such as <literal>tcp</literal>,
+            <literal>udp</literal> or <literal>sctp</literal>, or IP protocol number such as <literal>6</literal> for <literal>tcp</literal> or
+            <literal>17</literal> for <literal>udp</literal>.
             Defaults to unset.</para>
           </listitem>
         </varlistentry>
diff --git a/src/network/networkd-routing-policy-rule.c b/src/network/networkd-routing-policy-rule.c
index 5d87b27677..649876529e 100644
--- a/src/network/networkd-routing-policy-rule.c
+++ b/src/network/networkd-routing-policy-rule.c
@@ -958,14 +958,9 @@ int config_parse_routing_policy_rule_ip_protocol(
         if (r < 0)
                 return r;
 
-        r = ip_protocol_from_name(rvalue);
+        r = parse_ip_protocol(rvalue);
         if (r < 0) {
-                log_syntax(unit, LOG_ERR, filename, line, r, "Failed to parse routing policy rule protocol, ignoring: %s", rvalue);
-                return 0;
-        }
-
-        if (!IN_SET(r, IPPROTO_TCP, IPPROTO_UDP, IPPROTO_SCTP)) {
-                log_syntax(unit, LOG_ERR, filename, line, 0, "Invalid protocol '%s'. Protocol should be tcp/udp/sctp, ignoring", rvalue);
+                log_syntax(unit, LOG_ERR, filename, line, r, "Failed to parse IP protocol '%s' for routing policy rule, ignoring: %m", rvalue);
                 return 0;
         }