diff --git a/pkg/ovs/ovn-nb-acl.go b/pkg/ovs/ovn-nb-acl.go
index 07143253ec6..db5c5f49c4d 100644
--- a/pkg/ovs/ovn-nb-acl.go
+++ b/pkg/ovs/ovn-nb-acl.go
@@ -277,6 +277,32 @@ func (c *OVNNbClient) CreateNodeACL(pgName, nodeIPStr, joinIPStr string) error {
 func (c *OVNNbClient) CreateSgDenyAllACL(sgName string) error {
 	pgName := GetSgPortGroupName(sgName)
 
+	// for upgrading from v1.12.x to v1.13.x
+	// see https://github.com/kubeovn/kube-ovn/issues/4742
+	oldIngressACL, err := c.GetACL(pgName, ovnnb.ACLDirectionToLport, util.SecurityGroupDropPriority, fmt.Sprintf("outport == @%s && ip", pgName), true)
+	if err != nil {
+		klog.Error(err)
+		return err
+	}
+	if oldIngressACL != nil && oldIngressACL.Tier == util.DefaultACLTier {
+		if err := c.DeleteACL(pgName, portGroupKey, ovnnb.ACLDirectionToLport, util.SecurityGroupDropPriority, fmt.Sprintf("outport == @%s && ip", pgName)); err != nil {
+			klog.Errorf("delete legacy acl from port group %s: %v", pgName, err)
+			return err
+		}
+	}
+	oldEgressACL, err := c.GetACL(pgName, ovnnb.ACLDirectionFromLport, util.SecurityGroupDropPriority, fmt.Sprintf("inport == @%s && ip", pgName), true)
+	if err != nil {
+		klog.Error(err)
+		return err
+	}
+	if oldEgressACL != nil && oldEgressACL.Tier == util.DefaultACLTier {
+		if err := c.DeleteACL(pgName, portGroupKey, ovnnb.ACLDirectionFromLport, util.SecurityGroupDropPriority, fmt.Sprintf("inport == @%s && ip", pgName)); err != nil {
+			klog.Errorf("delete legacy acl from port group %s: %v", pgName, err)
+			return err
+		}
+	}
+
+	// create new acls for deny all sg
 	ingressACL, err := c.newACL(pgName, ovnnb.ACLDirectionToLport, util.SecurityGroupDropPriority, fmt.Sprintf("outport == @%s && ip", pgName), ovnnb.ACLActionDrop, util.NetpolACLTier)
 	if err != nil {
 		klog.Error(err)
diff --git a/pkg/util/const.go b/pkg/util/const.go
index 8acda2daaf0..9fd399a4569 100644
--- a/pkg/util/const.go
+++ b/pkg/util/const.go
@@ -157,6 +157,7 @@ const (
 	AnpMaxPriority       = 99
 	AnpACLMaxPriority    = 30000
 	BanpACLMaxPriority   = 1800
+	DefaultACLTier       = 0
 	AnpACLTier           = 1
 	NetpolACLTier        = 2
 	BanpACLTier          = 3