diff --git a/kernel/bpf/map_in_map.c b/kernel/bpf/map_in_map.c
index 890dfe14e731..5cd8f5277279 100644
--- a/kernel/bpf/map_in_map.c
+++ b/kernel/bpf/map_in_map.c
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@
  */
 #include <linux/slab.h>
 #include <linux/bpf.h>
+#include <linux/btf.h>
 
 #include "map_in_map.h"
 
@@ -51,6 +52,10 @@ struct bpf_map *bpf_map_meta_alloc(int inner_map_ufd)
 	inner_map_meta->max_entries = inner_map->max_entries;
 	inner_map_meta->spin_lock_off = inner_map->spin_lock_off;
 	inner_map_meta->timer_off = inner_map->timer_off;
+	if (inner_map->btf) {
+		btf_get(inner_map->btf);
+		inner_map_meta->btf = inner_map->btf;
+	}
 
 	/* Misc members not needed in bpf_map_meta_equal() check. */
 	inner_map_meta->ops = inner_map->ops;
@@ -66,6 +71,7 @@ struct bpf_map *bpf_map_meta_alloc(int inner_map_ufd)
 
 void bpf_map_meta_free(struct bpf_map *map_meta)
 {
+	btf_put(map_meta->btf);
 	kfree(map_meta);
 }