diff --git a/manila/share/drivers/netapp/dataontap/client/client_cmode.py b/manila/share/drivers/netapp/dataontap/client/client_cmode.py
index 31610a7017..ee49c5c0ee 100644
--- a/manila/share/drivers/netapp/dataontap/client/client_cmode.py
+++ b/manila/share/drivers/netapp/dataontap/client/client_cmode.py
@@ -659,6 +659,8 @@ class NetAppCmodeClient(client_base.NetAppBaseClient):
 
     @na_utils.trace
     def create_route(self, gateway, destination=None):
+        if not gateway:
+            return
         if not destination:
             if ':' in gateway:
                 destination = '::/0'
diff --git a/manila/tests/share/drivers/netapp/dataontap/client/test_client_cmode.py b/manila/tests/share/drivers/netapp/dataontap/client/test_client_cmode.py
index 87c87bd629..0a32e38382 100644
--- a/manila/tests/share/drivers/netapp/dataontap/client/test_client_cmode.py
+++ b/manila/tests/share/drivers/netapp/dataontap/client/test_client_cmode.py
@@ -1249,6 +1249,11 @@ class NetAppClientCmodeTestCase(test.TestCase):
         self.client.send_request.assert_called_once_with(
             'net-routes-create', expected_api_args)
 
+    def test_create_route_without_gateway(self):
+        self.mock_object(self.client, 'send_request')
+        self.client.create_route(None, destination=fake.SUBNET)
+        self.assertFalse(self.client.send_request.called)
+
     def test_ensure_broadcast_domain_for_port_domain_match(self):
 
         port_info = {
diff --git a/releasenotes/notes/bug-1777126-netapp-skip-route-setup-if-no-gateway-e841635dcd20fd12.yaml b/releasenotes/notes/bug-1777126-netapp-skip-route-setup-if-no-gateway-e841635dcd20fd12.yaml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..57c8e8e608
--- /dev/null
+++ b/releasenotes/notes/bug-1777126-netapp-skip-route-setup-if-no-gateway-e841635dcd20fd12.yaml
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+---
+fixes:
+  - The NetApp driver has been fixed to not enforce route creation when the
+    share network provided has no gateway. See `Launchpad bug 1777126
+    <https://bugs.launchpad.net/manila/+bug/1777126>`_ for details.