diff --git a/net/ipv4/tcp_cong.c b/net/ipv4/tcp_cong.c
index 563d016e7478..db5831e6c136 100644
--- a/net/ipv4/tcp_cong.c
+++ b/net/ipv4/tcp_cong.c
@@ -230,6 +230,10 @@ int tcp_set_default_congestion_control(struct net *net, const char *name)
 		ret = -ENOENT;
 	} else if (!bpf_try_module_get(ca, ca->owner)) {
 		ret = -EBUSY;
+	} else if (!net_eq(net, &init_net) &&
+			!(ca->flags & TCP_CONG_NON_RESTRICTED)) {
+		/* Only init netns can set default to a restricted algorithm */
+		ret = -EPERM;
 	} else {
 		prev = xchg(&net->ipv4.tcp_congestion_control, ca);
 		if (prev)