diff --git a/kernel/bpf/verifier.c b/kernel/bpf/verifier.c
index 11e54dd8b6ddcc..0bcc6d4b1b2f11 100644
--- a/kernel/bpf/verifier.c
+++ b/kernel/bpf/verifier.c
@@ -10129,6 +10129,16 @@ static bool is_kfunc_ret_null(struct bpf_kfunc_call_arg_meta *meta)
 	return meta->kfunc_flags & KF_RET_NULL;
 }
 
+static bool is_kfunc_ret_null(struct bpf_kfunc_call_arg_meta *meta)
+{
+	if (meta->func_id == special_kfunc_list[KF_bpf_refcount_acquire_impl] &&
+	    meta->arg_owning_ref) {
+		return false;
+	}
+
+	return meta->kfunc_flags & KF_RET_NULL;
+}
+
 static bool is_kfunc_bpf_rcu_read_lock(struct bpf_kfunc_call_arg_meta *meta)
 {
 	return meta->func_id == special_kfunc_list[KF_bpf_rcu_read_lock];