diff --git a/kernel/bpf/inode.c b/kernel/bpf/inode.c
index 1576ff331ee44..dc56237d69600 100644
--- a/kernel/bpf/inode.c
+++ b/kernel/bpf/inode.c
@@ -547,7 +547,7 @@ int bpf_obj_get_user(const char __user *pathname, int flags)
 	else if (type == BPF_TYPE_MAP)
 		ret = bpf_map_new_fd(raw, f_flags);
 	else if (type == BPF_TYPE_LINK)
-		ret = bpf_link_new_fd(raw);
+		ret = (f_flags != O_RDWR) ? -EINVAL : bpf_link_new_fd(raw);
 	else
 		return -ENOENT;