diff --git a/kernel/bpf/bpf_struct_ops.c b/kernel/bpf/bpf_struct_ops.c
index 0ef00f7f64c9..db13ee70d94d 100644
--- a/kernel/bpf/bpf_struct_ops.c
+++ b/kernel/bpf/bpf_struct_ops.c
@@ -390,7 +390,7 @@ int bpf_struct_ops_desc_init(struct bpf_struct_ops_desc *st_ops_desc,
 	st_ops_desc->value_type = btf_type_by_id(btf, value_id);
 
 	for_each_member(i, t, member) {
-		const struct btf_type *func_proto;
+		const struct btf_type *func_proto, *ret_type;
 		void **stub_func_addr;
 		u32 moff;
 
@@ -427,6 +427,16 @@ int bpf_struct_ops_desc_init(struct bpf_struct_ops_desc *st_ops_desc,
 		if (!func_proto || bpf_struct_ops_supported(st_ops, moff))
 			continue;
 
+		if (func_proto->type) {
+			ret_type = btf_type_resolve_ptr(btf, func_proto->type, NULL);
+			if (ret_type && !__btf_type_is_struct(ret_type)) {
+				pr_warn("func ptr %s in struct %s returns non-struct pointer, which is not supported\n",
+					mname, st_ops->name);
+				err = -EOPNOTSUPP;
+				goto errout;
+			}
+		}
+
 		if (btf_distill_func_proto(log, btf,
 					   func_proto, mname,
 					   &st_ops->func_models[i])) {
diff --git a/kernel/bpf/verifier.c b/kernel/bpf/verifier.c
index c2762b56e604..e7bc74171c99 100644
--- a/kernel/bpf/verifier.c
+++ b/kernel/bpf/verifier.c
@@ -10758,6 +10758,8 @@ record_func_key(struct bpf_verifier_env *env, struct bpf_call_arg_meta *meta,
 static int check_reference_leak(struct bpf_verifier_env *env, bool exception_exit)
 {
 	struct bpf_verifier_state *state = env->cur_state;
+	enum bpf_prog_type type = resolve_prog_type(env->prog);
+	struct bpf_reg_state *reg = reg_state(env, BPF_REG_0);
 	bool refs_lingering = false;
 	int i;
 
@@ -10767,6 +10769,12 @@ static int check_reference_leak(struct bpf_verifier_env *env, bool exception_exi
 	for (i = 0; i < state->acquired_refs; i++) {
 		if (state->refs[i].type != REF_TYPE_PTR)
 			continue;
+		/* Allow struct_ops programs to return a referenced kptr back to
+		 * kernel. Type checks are performed later in check_return_code.
+		 */
+		if (type == BPF_PROG_TYPE_STRUCT_OPS && !exception_exit &&
+		    reg->ref_obj_id == state->refs[i].id)
+			continue;
 		verbose(env, "Unreleased reference id=%d alloc_insn=%d\n",
 			state->refs[i].id, state->refs[i].insn_idx);
 		refs_lingering = true;
@@ -16418,13 +16426,14 @@ static int check_return_code(struct bpf_verifier_env *env, int regno, const char
 	const char *exit_ctx = "At program exit";
 	struct tnum enforce_attach_type_range = tnum_unknown;
 	const struct bpf_prog *prog = env->prog;
-	struct bpf_reg_state *reg;
+	struct bpf_reg_state *reg = reg_state(env, regno);
 	struct bpf_retval_range range = retval_range(0, 1);
 	enum bpf_prog_type prog_type = resolve_prog_type(env->prog);
 	int err;
 	struct bpf_func_state *frame = env->cur_state->frame[0];
 	const bool is_subprog = frame->subprogno;
 	bool return_32bit = false;
+	const struct btf_type *reg_type, *ret_type = NULL;
 
 	/* LSM and struct_ops func-ptr's return type could be "void" */
 	if (!is_subprog || frame->in_exception_callback_fn) {
@@ -16433,10 +16442,26 @@ static int check_return_code(struct bpf_verifier_env *env, int regno, const char
 			if (prog->expected_attach_type == BPF_LSM_CGROUP)
 				/* See below, can be 0 or 0-1 depending on hook. */
 				break;
-			fallthrough;
+			if (!prog->aux->attach_func_proto->type)
+				return 0;
+			break;
 		case BPF_PROG_TYPE_STRUCT_OPS:
 			if (!prog->aux->attach_func_proto->type)
 				return 0;
+
+			if (frame->in_exception_callback_fn)
+				break;
+
+			/* Allow a struct_ops program to return a referenced kptr if it
+			 * matches the operator's return type and is in its unmodified
+			 * form. A scalar zero (i.e., a null pointer) is also allowed.
+			 */
+			reg_type = reg->btf ? btf_type_by_id(reg->btf, reg->btf_id) : NULL;
+			ret_type = btf_type_resolve_ptr(prog->aux->attach_btf,
+							prog->aux->attach_func_proto->type,
+							NULL);
+			if (ret_type && ret_type == reg_type && reg->ref_obj_id)
+				return __check_ptr_off_reg(env, reg, regno, false);
 			break;
 		default:
 			break;
@@ -16458,8 +16483,6 @@ static int check_return_code(struct bpf_verifier_env *env, int regno, const char
 		return -EACCES;
 	}
 
-	reg = cur_regs(env) + regno;
-
 	if (frame->in_async_callback_fn) {
 		/* enforce return zero from async callbacks like timer */
 		exit_ctx = "At async callback return";
@@ -16558,6 +16581,11 @@ static int check_return_code(struct bpf_verifier_env *env, int regno, const char
 	case BPF_PROG_TYPE_NETFILTER:
 		range = retval_range(NF_DROP, NF_ACCEPT);
 		break;
+	case BPF_PROG_TYPE_STRUCT_OPS:
+		if (!ret_type)
+			return 0;
+		range = retval_range(0, 0);
+		break;
 	case BPF_PROG_TYPE_EXT:
 		/* freplace program can return anything as its return value
 		 * depends on the to-be-replaced kernel func or bpf program.