diff --git a/kernel/bpf/verifier.c b/kernel/bpf/verifier.c
index 94d952967fbf..07ca1157f97c 100644
--- a/kernel/bpf/verifier.c
+++ b/kernel/bpf/verifier.c
@@ -5568,7 +5568,8 @@ static bool may_update_sockmap(struct bpf_verifier_env *env, int func_id)
 	enum bpf_attach_type eatype = env->prog->expected_attach_type;
 	enum bpf_prog_type type = resolve_prog_type(env->prog);
 
-	if (func_id != BPF_FUNC_map_update_elem)
+	if (func_id != BPF_FUNC_map_update_elem &&
+	    func_id != BPF_FUNC_map_delete_elem)
 		return false;
 
 	/* It's not possible to get access to a locked struct sock in these
@@ -5579,6 +5580,11 @@ static bool may_update_sockmap(struct bpf_verifier_env *env, int func_id)
 		if (eatype == BPF_TRACE_ITER)
 			return true;
 		break;
+	case BPF_PROG_TYPE_SOCK_OPS:
+		/* map_update allowed only via dedicated helpers with event type checks */
+		if (func_id == BPF_FUNC_map_delete_elem)
+			return true;
+		break;
 	case BPF_PROG_TYPE_SOCKET_FILTER:
 	case BPF_PROG_TYPE_SCHED_CLS:
 	case BPF_PROG_TYPE_SCHED_ACT:
@@ -5666,7 +5672,6 @@ static int check_map_func_compatibility(struct bpf_verifier_env *env,
 	case BPF_MAP_TYPE_SOCKMAP:
 		if (func_id != BPF_FUNC_sk_redirect_map &&
 		    func_id != BPF_FUNC_sock_map_update &&
-		    func_id != BPF_FUNC_map_delete_elem &&
 		    func_id != BPF_FUNC_msg_redirect_map &&
 		    func_id != BPF_FUNC_sk_select_reuseport &&
 		    func_id != BPF_FUNC_map_lookup_elem &&
@@ -5676,7 +5681,6 @@ static int check_map_func_compatibility(struct bpf_verifier_env *env,
 	case BPF_MAP_TYPE_SOCKHASH:
 		if (func_id != BPF_FUNC_sk_redirect_hash &&
 		    func_id != BPF_FUNC_sock_hash_update &&
-		    func_id != BPF_FUNC_map_delete_elem &&
 		    func_id != BPF_FUNC_msg_redirect_hash &&
 		    func_id != BPF_FUNC_sk_select_reuseport &&
 		    func_id != BPF_FUNC_map_lookup_elem &&