diff --git a/kernel/bpf/verifier.c b/kernel/bpf/verifier.c
index cc9c90d74dc1..52649a5497ce 100644
--- a/kernel/bpf/verifier.c
+++ b/kernel/bpf/verifier.c
@@ -11500,6 +11500,11 @@ static int check_attach_btf_id(struct bpf_verifier_env *env)
 				verbose(env, "%s is not sleepable\n",
 					prog->aux->attach_func_name);
 		} else if (prog->expected_attach_type == BPF_MODIFY_RETURN) {
+			if (tgt_prog) {
+				verbose(env, "can't modify return codes of BPF programs\n");
+				ret = -EINVAL;
+				goto out;
+			}
 			ret = check_attach_modify_return(prog, addr);
 			if (ret)
 				verbose(env, "%s() is not modifiable\n",