diff --git a/doc/man-sections/server-options.rst b/doc/man-sections/server-options.rst
index eb8e273..c9d29f6 100644
--- a/doc/man-sections/server-options.rst
+++ b/doc/man-sections/server-options.rst
@@ -671,6 +671,11 @@
 
   If ``t`` is not present it defaults to ``n``.
 
+  Only dynamically learned routes are subject to this check. Routes added from
+  configuration, such as ``--iroute`` entries and a client's pushed ifconfig
+  address, are never removed by it; they are dropped only when the client
+  disconnects.
+
   This option helps to keep the dynamic routing table small. See also
   ``--max-routes-per-client``
 
diff --git a/src/openvpn/multi.c b/src/openvpn/multi.c
index a957fdf..b08ff08 100644
--- a/src/openvpn/multi.c
+++ b/src/openvpn/multi.c
@@ -1191,7 +1191,7 @@
         addr.netbits = (uint8_t)netbits;
     }
 
-    struct multi_instance *owner = multi_learn_addr(m, mi, &addr, 0);
+    struct multi_instance *owner = multi_learn_addr(m, mi, &addr, MULTI_ROUTE_PERMANENT);
 #ifdef ENABLE_MANAGEMENT
     if (management && owner)
     {
@@ -1236,7 +1236,7 @@
         mroute_addr_mask_host_bits(&addr);
     }
 
-    struct multi_instance *owner = multi_learn_addr(m, mi, &addr, 0);
+    struct multi_instance *owner = multi_learn_addr(m, mi, &addr, MULTI_ROUTE_PERMANENT);
 #ifdef ENABLE_MANAGEMENT
     if (management && owner)
     {
@@ -1360,7 +1360,7 @@
     while ((he = hash_iterator_next(&hi)) != NULL)
     {
         struct multi_route *r = (struct multi_route *)he->value;
-        if (multi_route_defined(m, r)
+        if (multi_route_defined(m, r) && !(r->flags & MULTI_ROUTE_PERMANENT)
             && difftime(now, r->last_reference) >= m->top.options.stale_routes_ageing_time)
         {
             dmsg(D_MULTI_DEBUG, "MULTI: Deleting stale route for address '%s'",
diff --git a/src/openvpn/multi.h b/src/openvpn/multi.h
index 3ed08d4..22cfeee 100644
--- a/src/openvpn/multi.h
+++ b/src/openvpn/multi.h
@@ -237,8 +237,9 @@
     struct mroute_addr addr;
     struct multi_instance *instance;
 
-#define MULTI_ROUTE_CACHE   (1 << 0)
-#define MULTI_ROUTE_AGEABLE (1 << 1)
+#define MULTI_ROUTE_CACHE     (1 << 0)
+#define MULTI_ROUTE_AGEABLE   (1 << 1)
+#define MULTI_ROUTE_PERMANENT (1 << 2) /* config-derived (iroute / pushed ifconfig); never stale-aged */
     unsigned int flags;
 
     unsigned int cache_generation;