diff --git a/components/efuse/src/esp_efuse_fields.c b/components/efuse/src/esp_efuse_fields.c
index 52b7d273956..b4f53dc96be 100644
--- a/components/efuse/src/esp_efuse_fields.c
+++ b/components/efuse/src/esp_efuse_fields.c
@@ -81,11 +81,11 @@ esp_err_t esp_efuse_update_secure_version(uint32_t secure_version)
     uint32_t sec_ver_hw = esp_efuse_read_secure_version();
     // If secure_version is the same as in eFuse field than it is ok just go out.
     if (sec_ver_hw < secure_version) {
-        uint32_t num_bit_hw = (1ULL << sec_ver_hw) - 1;
-        uint32_t num_bit_app = (1ULL << secure_version) - 1;
-        // Repeated programming of programmed bits is strictly forbidden
-        uint32_t new_bits = num_bit_app - num_bit_hw; // get only new bits
-        esp_efuse_write_field_blob(ESP_EFUSE_SECURE_VERSION, &new_bits, size);
+        esp_err_t err = esp_efuse_write_field_cnt(ESP_EFUSE_SECURE_VERSION, secure_version - sec_ver_hw);
+        if (err != ESP_OK || esp_efuse_read_secure_version() < secure_version) {
+            ESP_LOGE(TAG, "Failed to update secure version in eFuse");
+            return ESP_FAIL;
+        }
         ESP_LOGI(TAG, "Anti-rollback is set. eFuse field is updated(%"PRIu32").", secure_version);
     } else if (sec_ver_hw > secure_version) {
         ESP_LOGE(TAG, "Anti-rollback is not set. secure_version of app is lower that eFuse field(%"PRIu32").", sec_ver_hw);
diff --git a/components/efuse/test_apps/main/test_efuse.c b/components/efuse/test_apps/main/test_efuse.c
index c07f4f2b618..8c6cd6e742f 100644
--- a/components/efuse/test_apps/main/test_efuse.c
+++ b/components/efuse/test_apps/main/test_efuse.c
@@ -282,6 +282,27 @@ TEST_CASE("efuse test write_field_cnt", "[efuse]")
     test_write_cnt();
 }
 
+TEST_CASE("secure version update handles sparse efuse field", "[efuse]")
+{
+    const uint32_t sparse_secure_version = 1U << 2;
+    const uint32_t expected_secure_version = 3;
+    size_t field_size = esp_efuse_get_field_size(ESP_EFUSE_SECURE_VERSION);
+
+    // Preload a non-sequential state that may remain after an earlier incomplete update:
+    // initial: bitmap 0b100, secure version 1;
+    esp_efuse_utility_erase_virt_blocks();
+    TEST_ESP_OK(esp_efuse_write_field_blob(ESP_EFUSE_SECURE_VERSION, &sparse_secure_version, field_size));
+    TEST_ASSERT_EQUAL_UINT32(1, esp_efuse_read_secure_version());
+
+    // update to 3: bitmap 0b111, secure version 3;
+    TEST_ESP_OK(esp_efuse_update_secure_version(expected_secure_version));
+    TEST_ASSERT_EQUAL_UINT32(expected_secure_version, esp_efuse_read_secure_version());
+
+    // repeated update: bitmap 0b111, secure version 3 (no change).
+    TEST_ESP_OK(esp_efuse_update_secure_version(expected_secure_version));
+    TEST_ASSERT_EQUAL_UINT32(expected_secure_version, esp_efuse_read_secure_version());
+}
+
 TEST_CASE("efuse test single bit functions", "[efuse]")
 {
     esp_efuse_utility_erase_virt_blocks();