diff --git a/kernel/bpf/states.c b/kernel/bpf/states.c
index 06d9ae24f006..32f346ce3ffc 100644
--- a/kernel/bpf/states.c
+++ b/kernel/bpf/states.c
@@ -343,8 +343,12 @@ static bool check_ids(u32 old_id, u32 cur_id, struct bpf_idmap *idmap)
 		return true;
 	}
 
-	/* We ran out of idmap slots, which should be impossible */
-	WARN_ON_ONCE(1);
+	/*
+	 * idmap slots are bounded by the number of registers and stack slots.
+	 * Since referenced dynptrs acquire intermediate references that do
+	 * not live in either, so the map can be exhausted. Since it is unlikely,
+	 * fail the verification by treating the states as not equivalent.
+	 */
 	return false;
 }