diff --git a/netbpfload/NetBpfLoad.cpp b/netbpfload/NetBpfLoad.cpp
index fefe99b..e9f8e7c 100644
--- a/netbpfload/NetBpfLoad.cpp
+++ b/netbpfload/NetBpfLoad.cpp
@@ -254,7 +254,7 @@
 }
 
 static int doLoad(char** argv, char * const envp[]) {
-    const bool runningAsRoot = !getuid();
+    const bool runningAsRoot = !getuid();  // true iff U QPR3 or V+
     const int device_api_level = android_get_device_api_level();
     const bool isAtLeastT = (device_api_level >= __ANDROID_API_T__);
     const bool isAtLeastU = (device_api_level >= __ANDROID_API_U__);
@@ -456,17 +456,25 @@
         return 1;
     }
 
-    if (isAtLeastV) {
-        ALOGI("done, transferring control to platform bpfloader.");
+    // leave a flag that we're done
+    if (createSysFsBpfSubDir("netd_shared/mainline_done")) return 1;
 
-        const char * args[] = { platformBpfLoader, NULL, };
-        execve(args[0], (char**)args, envp);
-        ALOGE("FATAL: execve('%s'): %d[%s]", platformBpfLoader, errno, strerror(errno));
-        return 1;
+    // platform bpfloader will only succeed when run as root
+    if (!runningAsRoot) {
+        // unreachable on U QPR3+ which always runs netbpfload as root
+
+        ALOGI("mainline done, no need to transfer control to platform bpf loader.");
+        return 0;
     }
 
-    ALOGI("mainline done!");
-    return 0;
+    // unreachable before U QPR3
+    ALOGI("done, transferring control to platform bpfloader.");
+
+    // platform BpfLoader *needs* to run as root
+    const char * args[] = { platformBpfLoader, NULL, };
+    execve(args[0], (char**)args, envp);
+    ALOGE("FATAL: execve('%s'): %d[%s]", platformBpfLoader, errno, strerror(errno));
+    return 1;
 }
 
 }  // namespace bpf
diff --git a/netbpfload/netbpfload.33rc b/netbpfload/netbpfload.33rc
index e139989..05f566e 100644
--- a/netbpfload/netbpfload.33rc
+++ b/netbpfload/netbpfload.33rc
@@ -1,12 +1,4 @@
-service mdnsd_netbpfload /system/bin/bpfloader
-    capabilities CHOWN SYS_ADMIN NET_ADMIN
-    group root graphics network_stack net_admin net_bw_acct net_bw_stats net_raw system
-    user root
-    rlimit memlock 1073741824 1073741824
-    oneshot
-    reboot_on_failure reboot,bpfloader-failed
-
-service bpfloader /apex/com.android.tethering/bin/netbpfload
+service mdnsd_netbpfload /apex/com.android.tethering/bin/netbpfload
     capabilities CHOWN SYS_ADMIN NET_ADMIN
     group system root graphics network_stack net_admin net_bw_acct net_bw_stats net_raw
     user system
diff --git a/netd/BpfHandler.cpp b/netd/BpfHandler.cpp
index 38f4a4e..15a4fef 100644
--- a/netd/BpfHandler.cpp
+++ b/netd/BpfHandler.cpp
@@ -34,6 +34,7 @@
 namespace net {
 
 using base::unique_fd;
+using base::WaitForProperty;
 using bpf::getSocketCookie;
 using bpf::retrieveProgram;
 using netdutils::Status;
@@ -140,39 +141,47 @@
 BpfHandler::BpfHandler(uint32_t perUidLimit, uint32_t totalLimit)
     : mPerUidStatsEntriesLimit(perUidLimit), mTotalUidStatsEntriesLimit(totalLimit) {}
 
+static bool mainlineNetBpfLoadDone() {
+    return !access("/sys/fs/bpf/netd_shared/mainline_done", F_OK);
+}
+
 // copied with minor changes from waitForProgsLoaded()
 // p/m/C's staticlibs/native/bpf_headers/include/bpf/WaitForProgsLoaded.h
 static inline void waitForNetProgsLoaded() {
     // infinite loop until success with 5/10/20/40/60/60/60... delay
     for (int delay = 5;; delay *= 2) {
         if (delay > 60) delay = 60;
-        if (base::WaitForProperty("init.svc.bpfloader", "stopped", std::chrono::seconds(delay))
-            && !access("/sys/fs/bpf/netd_shared", F_OK))
+        if (WaitForProperty("init.svc.mdnsd_netbpfload", "stopped", std::chrono::seconds(delay))
+            && mainlineNetBpfLoadDone())
             return;
-        ALOGW("Waited %ds for init.svc.bpfloader=stopped, still waiting...", delay);
+        ALOGW("Waited %ds for init.svc.mdnsd_netbpfload=stopped, still waiting...", delay);
     }
 }
 
 Status BpfHandler::init(const char* cg2_path) {
+    // Note: netd *can* be restarted, so this might get called a second time after boot is complete
+    // at which point we don't need to (and shouldn't) wait for (more importantly start) loading bpf
+
     if (base::GetProperty("bpf.progs_loaded", "") != "1") {
-        // Make sure BPF programs are loaded before doing anything
-        ALOGI("Waiting for BPF programs");
-
-        // TODO: use !modules::sdklevel::IsAtLeastV() once api finalized
-        if (android_get_device_api_level() < __ANDROID_API_V__) {
-            waitForNetProgsLoaded();
-            ALOGI("Networking BPF programs are loaded");
-
-            if (!base::SetProperty("ctl.start", "mdnsd_netbpfload")) {
-                ALOGE("Failed to set property ctl.start=mdnsd_netbpfload, see dmesg for reason.");
-                abort();
-            }
-
-            ALOGI("Waiting for remaining BPF programs");
-        }
-
+        // AOSP platform netd & mainline don't need this (at least prior to U QPR3),
+        // but there could be platform provided (xt_)bpf programs that oem/vendor
+        // modified netd (which calls us during init) depends on...
+        ALOGI("Waiting for platform BPF programs");
         android::bpf::waitForProgsLoaded();
     }
+
+    if (!mainlineNetBpfLoadDone()) {
+        // we're on < U QPR3 & it's the first time netd is starting up (unless crashlooping)
+        if (!base::SetProperty("ctl.start", "mdnsd_netbpfload")) {
+            ALOGE("Failed to set property ctl.start=mdnsd_netbpfload, see dmesg for reason.");
+            abort();
+        }
+
+        ALOGI("Waiting for Networking BPF programs");
+        waitForNetProgsLoaded();
+        ALOGI("Networking BPF programs are loaded");
+    }
+
     ALOGI("BPF programs are loaded");
 
     RETURN_IF_NOT_OK(initPrograms(cg2_path));
diff --git a/service/jni/com_android_server_connectivity_ClatCoordinator.cpp b/service/jni/com_android_server_connectivity_ClatCoordinator.cpp
index c07d050..18a274a 100644
--- a/service/jni/com_android_server_connectivity_ClatCoordinator.cpp
+++ b/service/jni/com_android_server_connectivity_ClatCoordinator.cpp
@@ -114,12 +114,7 @@
 
     V("/sys/fs/bpf", S_IFDIR|S_ISVTX|0777, ROOT, ROOT, "fs_bpf", DIR);
 
-    // TODO: use modules::sdklevel::IsAtLeastV() once api finalized
-    if (android_get_device_api_level() >= __ANDROID_API_V__) {
-        V("/sys/fs/bpf/net_shared", S_IFDIR|01777, ROOT, ROOT, "fs_bpf_net_shared", DIR);
-    } else {
-        V("/sys/fs/bpf/net_shared", S_IFDIR|01777, SYSTEM, SYSTEM, "fs_bpf_net_shared", DIR);
-    }
+    V("/sys/fs/bpf/net_shared", S_IFDIR|01777, ROOT, ROOT, "fs_bpf_net_shared", DIR);
 
     // pre-U we do not have selinux privs to getattr on bpf maps/progs
     // so while the below *should* be as listed, we have no way to actually verify