diff --git a/tools/testing/selftests/bpf/network_helpers.c b/tools/testing/selftests/bpf/network_helpers.c
index 44c2c8fa542a..e0cba4178e41 100644
--- a/tools/testing/selftests/bpf/network_helpers.c
+++ b/tools/testing/selftests/bpf/network_helpers.c
@@ -106,7 +106,7 @@ static int __start_server(int type, const struct sockaddr *addr, socklen_t addrl
 	}
 
 	if (type == SOCK_STREAM) {
-		if (listen(fd, 1) < 0) {
+		if (listen(fd, opts->backlog ? MAX(opts->backlog, 0) : 1) < 0) {
 			log_err("Failed to listed on socket");
 			goto error_close;
 		}
diff --git a/tools/testing/selftests/bpf/network_helpers.h b/tools/testing/selftests/bpf/network_helpers.h
index 9ea36524b9db..aac5b94d6379 100644
--- a/tools/testing/selftests/bpf/network_helpers.h
+++ b/tools/testing/selftests/bpf/network_helpers.h
@@ -25,6 +25,16 @@ struct network_helper_opts {
 	int timeout_ms;
 	bool must_fail;
 	int proto;
+	/* +ve: Passed to listen() as-is.
+	 *   0: Default when the test does not set
+	 *      a particular value during the struct init.
+	 *      It is changed to 1 before passing to listen().
+	 *      Most tests only have one on-going connection.
+	 * -ve: It is changed to 0 before passing to listen().
+	 *      It is useful to force syncookie without
+	 *	changing the "tcp_syncookies" sysctl from 1 to 2.
+	 */
+	int backlog;
 	int (*post_socket_cb)(int fd, void *opts);
 	void *cb_opts;
 };