u8 genmask = nft_genmask_next(net);
        struct nft_rbtree_elem *rbe;
        struct rb_node *parent, **p;
+       bool overlap = false;
        int d;
 
+       /* Detect overlaps as we descend the tree. Set the flag in these cases:
+        *
+        * a1. |__ _ _?  >|__ _ _  (insert start after existing start)
+        * a2. _ _ __>|  ?_ _ __|  (insert end before existing end)
+        * a3. _ _ ___|  ?_ _ _>|  (insert end after existing end)
+        * a4. >|__ _ _   _ _ __|  (insert start before existing end)
+        *
+        * and clear it later on, as we eventually reach the points indicated by
+        * '?' above, in the cases described below. We'll always meet these
+        * later, locally, due to tree ordering, and overlaps for the intervals
+        * that are the closest together are always evaluated last.
+        *
+        * b1. |__ _ _!  >|__ _ _  (insert start after existing end)
+        * b2. _ _ __>|  !_ _ __|  (insert end before existing start)
+        * b3. !_____>|            (insert end after existing start)
+        *
+        * Case a4. resolves to b1.:
+        * - if the inserted start element is the leftmost, because the '0'
+        *   element in the tree serves as end element
+        * - otherwise, if an existing end is found. Note that end elements are
+        *   always inserted after corresponding start elements.
+        *
+        * For a new, rightmost pair of elements, we'll hit cases b1. and b3.,
+        * in that order.
+        *
+        * The flag is also cleared in two special cases:
+        *
+        * b4. |__ _ _!|<_ _ _   (insert start right before existing end)
+        * b5. |__ _ >|!__ _ _   (insert end right after existing start)
+        *
+        * which always happen as last step and imply that no further
+        * overlapping is possible.
+        */
+
        parent = NULL;
        p = &priv->root.rb_node;
        while (*p != NULL) {
                d = memcmp(nft_set_ext_key(&rbe->ext),
                           nft_set_ext_key(&new->ext),
                           set->klen);
-               if (d < 0)
+               if (d < 0) {
                        p = &parent->rb_left;
-               else if (d > 0)
+
+                       if (nft_rbtree_interval_start(new)) {
+                               overlap = nft_rbtree_interval_start(rbe) &&
+                                         nft_set_elem_active(&rbe->ext,
+                                                             genmask);
+                       } else {
+                               overlap = nft_rbtree_interval_end(rbe) &&
+                                         nft_set_elem_active(&rbe->ext,
+                                                             genmask);
+                       }
+               } else if (d > 0) {
                        p = &parent->rb_right;
-               else {
+
+                       if (nft_rbtree_interval_end(new)) {
+                               overlap = nft_rbtree_interval_end(rbe) &&
+                                         nft_set_elem_active(&rbe->ext,
+                                                             genmask);
+                       } else if (nft_rbtree_interval_end(rbe) &&
+                                  nft_set_elem_active(&rbe->ext, genmask)) {
+                               overlap = true;
+                       }
+               } else {
                        if (nft_rbtree_interval_end(rbe) &&
                            nft_rbtree_interval_start(new)) {
                                p = &parent->rb_left;
+
+                               if (nft_set_elem_active(&rbe->ext, genmask))
+                                       overlap = false;
                        } else if (nft_rbtree_interval_start(rbe) &&
                                   nft_rbtree_interval_end(new)) {
                                p = &parent->rb_right;
+
+                               if (nft_set_elem_active(&rbe->ext, genmask))
+                                       overlap = false;
                        } else if (nft_set_elem_active(&rbe->ext, genmask)) {
                                *ext = &rbe->ext;
                                return -EEXIST;
                        }
                }
        }
+
+       if (overlap)
+               return -ENOTEMPTY;
+
        rb_link_node_rcu(&new->node, parent, p);
        rb_insert_color(&new->node, &priv->root);
        return 0;