diff --git a/.golangci.yml b/.golangci.yml
index 6b0eb20e049..8f22a6bbffe 100644
--- a/.golangci.yml
+++ b/.golangci.yml
@@ -54,6 +54,15 @@ linters:
             - pkg: crypto/md5
             - pkg: crypto/sha1
             - pkg: crypto/**/pkix
+        semconv:
+          list-mode: lax
+          deny:
+            - pkg: go.opentelemetry.io/otel/semconv
+              desc: Use go.opentelemetry.io/otel/semconv/v1.38.0 instead. If a newer semconv version has been released, update the depguard rule.
+          allow:
+            - go.opentelemetry.io/otel/semconv/v1.21.0 # still used by otelmongo
+            - go.opentelemetry.io/otel/semconv/v1.37.0
+            - go.opentelemetry.io/otel/semconv/v1.38.0
     gocritic:
       disabled-checks:
         - appendAssign