diff --git a/include/uapi/linux/bpf.h b/include/uapi/linux/bpf.h
index e7d57e89f25f..1d324c2cbca2 100644
--- a/include/uapi/linux/bpf.h
+++ b/include/uapi/linux/bpf.h
@@ -133,6 +133,14 @@ enum bpf_map_type {
 	BPF_MAP_TYPE_STACK,
 };
 
+/* Note that tracing related programs such as
+ * BPF_PROG_TYPE_{KPROBE,TRACEPOINT,PERF_EVENT,RAW_TRACEPOINT}
+ * are not subject to a stable API since kernel internal data
+ * structures can change from release to release and may
+ * therefore break existing tracing BPF programs. Tracing BPF
+ * programs correspond to /a/ specific kernel which is to be
+ * analyzed, and not /a/ specific kernel /and/ all future ones.
+ */
 enum bpf_prog_type {
 	BPF_PROG_TYPE_UNSPEC,
 	BPF_PROG_TYPE_SOCKET_FILTER,
@@ -343,7 +351,7 @@ union bpf_attr {
 		__u32		log_level;	/* verbosity level of verifier */
 		__u32		log_size;	/* size of user buffer */
 		__aligned_u64	log_buf;	/* user supplied buffer */
-		__u32		kern_version;	/* checked when prog_type=kprobe */
+		__u32		kern_version;	/* not used */
 		__u32		prog_flags;
 		char		prog_name[BPF_OBJ_NAME_LEN];
 		__u32		prog_ifindex;	/* ifindex of netdev to prep for */
diff --git a/kernel/bpf/syscall.c b/kernel/bpf/syscall.c
index 6ae062f1cf20..5db31067d85e 100644
--- a/kernel/bpf/syscall.c
+++ b/kernel/bpf/syscall.c
@@ -1473,11 +1473,6 @@ static int bpf_prog_load(union bpf_attr *attr, union bpf_attr __user *uattr)
 
 	if (attr->insn_cnt == 0 || attr->insn_cnt > BPF_MAXINSNS)
 		return -E2BIG;
-
-	if (type == BPF_PROG_TYPE_KPROBE &&
-	    attr->kern_version != LINUX_VERSION_CODE)
-		return -EINVAL;
-
 	if (type != BPF_PROG_TYPE_SOCKET_FILTER &&
 	    type != BPF_PROG_TYPE_CGROUP_SKB &&
 	    !capable(CAP_SYS_ADMIN))
diff --git a/tools/include/uapi/linux/bpf.h b/tools/include/uapi/linux/bpf.h
index e7d57e89f25f..1d324c2cbca2 100644
--- a/tools/include/uapi/linux/bpf.h
+++ b/tools/include/uapi/linux/bpf.h
@@ -133,6 +133,14 @@ enum bpf_map_type {
 	BPF_MAP_TYPE_STACK,
 };
 
+/* Note that tracing related programs such as
+ * BPF_PROG_TYPE_{KPROBE,TRACEPOINT,PERF_EVENT,RAW_TRACEPOINT}
+ * are not subject to a stable API since kernel internal data
+ * structures can change from release to release and may
+ * therefore break existing tracing BPF programs. Tracing BPF
+ * programs correspond to /a/ specific kernel which is to be
+ * analyzed, and not /a/ specific kernel /and/ all future ones.
+ */
 enum bpf_prog_type {
 	BPF_PROG_TYPE_UNSPEC,
 	BPF_PROG_TYPE_SOCKET_FILTER,
@@ -343,7 +351,7 @@ union bpf_attr {
 		__u32		log_level;	/* verbosity level of verifier */
 		__u32		log_size;	/* size of user buffer */
 		__aligned_u64	log_buf;	/* user supplied buffer */
-		__u32		kern_version;	/* checked when prog_type=kprobe */
+		__u32		kern_version;	/* not used */
 		__u32		prog_flags;
 		char		prog_name[BPF_OBJ_NAME_LEN];
 		__u32		prog_ifindex;	/* ifindex of netdev to prep for */