diff --git a/tools/testing/selftests/bpf/trace_helpers.c b/tools/testing/selftests/bpf/trace_helpers.c
index cabe2a3a3b30076f3bcd282758e43774bde542ec..cf156b35367985c4cf09512f7339086a1adab78d 100644
--- a/tools/testing/selftests/bpf/trace_helpers.c
+++ b/tools/testing/selftests/bpf/trace_helpers.c
@@ -51,6 +51,10 @@ struct ksym *ksym_search(long key)
 	int start = 0, end = sym_cnt;
 	int result;
 
+	/* kallsyms not loaded. return NULL */
+	if (sym_cnt <= 0)
+		return NULL;
+
 	while (start < end) {
 		size_t mid = start + (end - start) / 2;