diff --git a/bpf/headers/include/bpf_helpers.h b/bpf/headers/include/bpf_helpers.h
index 073a3494f6..d817cc3860 100644
--- a/bpf/headers/include/bpf_helpers.h
+++ b/bpf/headers/include/bpf_helpers.h
@@ -231,6 +231,14 @@ static void (*bpf_ringbuf_submit_unsafe)(const void* data, __u64 flags) = (void*
               (ignore_userdebug).ignore_on_userdebug),                                   \
         "bpfloader min version must be >= 0.33 in order to use ignored_on");
 
+#define ABSOLUTE(x) ((x) < 0 ? -(x) : (x))
+
+#define DEFAULT_BPF_MAP_FLAGS(type, num_entries, mapflags)    \
+    ( (mapflags) |                                            \
+      ((num_entries) < 0 ? BPF_F_NO_PREALLOC : 0) |           \
+      (type == BPF_MAP_TYPE_LPM_TRIE ? BPF_F_NO_PREALLOC : 0) \
+    )
+
 #define DEFINE_BPF_MAP_BASE(the_map, TYPE, keysize, valuesize, num_entries, \
                             usr, grp, md, selinux, pindir, share, minkver,  \
                             maxkver, minloader, maxloader, ignore_eng,      \
@@ -239,8 +247,8 @@ static void (*bpf_ringbuf_submit_unsafe)(const void* data, __u64 flags) = (void*
         .type = BPF_MAP_TYPE_##TYPE,                                        \
         .key_size = (keysize),                                              \
         .value_size = (valuesize),                                          \
-        .max_entries = (num_entries),                                       \
-        .map_flags = (mapflags),                                            \
+        .max_entries = ABSOLUTE(num_entries),                               \
+        .map_flags = DEFAULT_BPF_MAP_FLAGS(BPF_MAP_TYPE_##TYPE, num_entries, mapflags), \
         .uid = (usr),                                                       \
         .gid = (grp),                                                       \
         .mode = (md),                                                       \
diff --git a/bpf/headers/include/bpf_map_def.h b/bpf/headers/include/bpf_map_def.h
index 2d6736c00b..d67da48604 100644
--- a/bpf/headers/include/bpf_map_def.h
+++ b/bpf/headers/include/bpf_map_def.h
@@ -94,6 +94,10 @@ _Static_assert(__alignof__(enum bpf_map_type) == 4, "__alignof__ enum bpf_map_ty
 _Static_assert(_Alignof(enum bpf_map_type) == 4, "_Alignof enum bpf_map_type != 4");
 
 // Linux kernel requires sizeof(int) == 4, sizeof(void*) == sizeof(long), sizeof(long long) == 8
+_Static_assert(sizeof(int) == 4, "sizeof int != 4");
+_Static_assert(__alignof__(int) == 4, "__alignof__ int != 4");
+_Static_assert(_Alignof(int) == 4, "_Alignof int != 4");
+
 _Static_assert(sizeof(unsigned int) == 4, "sizeof unsigned int != 4");
 _Static_assert(__alignof__(unsigned int) == 4, "__alignof__ unsigned int != 4");
 _Static_assert(_Alignof(unsigned int) == 4, "_Alignof unsigned int != 4");
@@ -155,7 +159,7 @@ struct bpf_map_def {
     enum bpf_map_type type;
     unsigned int key_size;
     unsigned int value_size;
-    unsigned int max_entries;
+    int max_entries;  // negative means BPF_F_NO_PREALLOC, but *might* not work with S
     unsigned int map_flags;
 
     // The following are not supported by the Android bpfloader: