diff --git a/include/net/sock.h b/include/net/sock.h
index 52448baf19d7..2fdb87f176cf 100644
--- a/include/net/sock.h
+++ b/include/net/sock.h
@@ -1409,7 +1409,7 @@ static inline void unlock_sock_fast(struct sock *sk, bool slow)
 static inline bool sock_owned_by_user(const struct sock *sk)
 {
 #ifdef CONFIG_LOCKDEP
-	WARN_ON(!lockdep_sock_is_held(sk));
+	WARN_ON_ONCE(!lockdep_sock_is_held(sk) && debug_locks);
 #endif
 	return sk->sk_lock.owned;
 }