diff --git a/net/mptcp/subflow.c b/net/mptcp/subflow.c
index d611783c2601..8ed7769cae83 100644
--- a/net/mptcp/subflow.c
+++ b/net/mptcp/subflow.c
@@ -1899,6 +1899,17 @@ static void tcp_release_cb_override(struct sock *ssk)
 	tcp_release_cb(ssk);
 }
 
+static int tcp_abort_override(struct sock *ssk, int err)
+{
+	/* closing a listener subflow requires a great deal of care.
+	 * keep it simple and just prevent such operation
+	 */
+	if (inet_sk_state_load(ssk) == TCP_LISTEN)
+		return -EINVAL;
+
+	return tcp_abort(ssk, err);
+}
+
 static struct tcp_ulp_ops subflow_ulp_ops __read_mostly = {
 	.name		= "mptcp",
 	.owner		= THIS_MODULE,
@@ -1942,6 +1953,7 @@ void __init mptcp_subflow_init(void)
 
 	tcp_prot_override = tcp_prot;
 	tcp_prot_override.release_cb = tcp_release_cb_override;
+	tcp_prot_override.diag_destroy = tcp_abort_override;
 
 #if IS_ENABLED(CONFIG_MPTCP_IPV6)
 	/* In struct mptcp_subflow_request_sock, we assume the TCP request sock
@@ -1977,6 +1989,7 @@ void __init mptcp_subflow_init(void)
 
 	tcpv6_prot_override = tcpv6_prot;
 	tcpv6_prot_override.release_cb = tcp_release_cb_override;
+	tcpv6_prot_override.diag_destroy = tcp_abort_override;
 #endif
 
 	mptcp_diag_subflow_init(&subflow_ulp_ops);