diff --git a/tools/lib/bpf/btf.c b/tools/lib/bpf/btf.c
index 4324eb47d214bcd43c10cebc08f3010bb65ad6d3..6953fedb88ff211f0afcd0714f958b3f6ebd79d4 100644
--- a/tools/lib/bpf/btf.c
+++ b/tools/lib/bpf/btf.c
@@ -42,9 +42,8 @@ struct btf {
 
 struct btf_ext_info {
 	/*
-	 * info points to a deep copy of the individual info section
-	 * (e.g. func_info and line_info) from the .BTF.ext.
-	 * It does not include the __u32 rec_size.
+	 * info points to the individual info section (e.g. func_info and
+	 * line_info) from the .BTF.ext. It does not include the __u32 rec_size.
 	 */
 	void *info;
 	__u32 rec_size;
@@ -52,8 +51,13 @@ struct btf_ext_info {
 };
 
 struct btf_ext {
+	union {
+		struct btf_ext_header *hdr;
+		void *data;
+	};
 	struct btf_ext_info func_info;
 	struct btf_ext_info line_info;
+	__u32 data_size;
 };
 
 struct btf_ext_info_sec {
@@ -367,8 +371,6 @@ void btf__free(struct btf *btf)
 
 struct btf *btf__new(__u8 *data, __u32 size)
 {
-	__u32 log_buf_size = 0;
-	char *log_buf = NULL;
 	struct btf *btf;
 	int err;
 
@@ -378,15 +380,6 @@ struct btf *btf__new(__u8 *data, __u32 size)
 
 	btf->fd = -1;
 
-	log_buf = malloc(BPF_LOG_BUF_SIZE);
-	if (!log_buf) {
-		err = -ENOMEM;
-		goto done;
-	}
-
-	*log_buf = 0;
-	log_buf_size = BPF_LOG_BUF_SIZE;
-
 	btf->data = malloc(size);
 	if (!btf->data) {
 		err = -ENOMEM;
@@ -396,17 +389,6 @@ struct btf *btf__new(__u8 *data, __u32 size)
 	memcpy(btf->data, data, size);
 	btf->data_size = size;
 
-	btf->fd = bpf_load_btf(btf->data, btf->data_size,
-			       log_buf, log_buf_size, false);
-
-	if (btf->fd == -1) {
-		err = -errno;
-		pr_warning("Error loading BTF: %s(%d)\n", strerror(errno), errno);
-		if (log_buf && *log_buf)
-			pr_warning("%s\n", log_buf);
-		goto done;
-	}
-
 	err = btf_parse_hdr(btf);
 	if (err)
 		goto done;
@@ -418,8 +400,6 @@ struct btf *btf__new(__u8 *data, __u32 size)
 	err = btf_parse_type_sec(btf);
 
 done:
-	free(log_buf);
-
 	if (err) {
 		btf__free(btf);
 		return ERR_PTR(err);
@@ -428,16 +408,45 @@ struct btf *btf__new(__u8 *data, __u32 size)
 	return btf;
 }
 
+int btf__load(struct btf *btf)
+{
+	__u32 log_buf_size = BPF_LOG_BUF_SIZE;
+	char *log_buf = NULL;
+	int err = 0;
+
+	if (btf->fd >= 0)
+		return -EEXIST;
+
+	log_buf = malloc(log_buf_size);
+	if (!log_buf)
+		return -ENOMEM;
+
+	*log_buf = 0;
+
+	btf->fd = bpf_load_btf(btf->data, btf->data_size,
+			       log_buf, log_buf_size, false);
+	if (btf->fd < 0) {
+		err = -errno;
+		pr_warning("Error loading BTF: %s(%d)\n", strerror(errno), errno);
+		if (*log_buf)
+			pr_warning("%s\n", log_buf);
+		goto done;
+	}
+
+done:
+	free(log_buf);
+	return err;
+}
+
 int btf__fd(const struct btf *btf)
 {
 	return btf->fd;
 }
 
-void btf__get_strings(const struct btf *btf, const char **strings,
-		      __u32 *str_len)
+const void *btf__get_raw_data(const struct btf *btf, __u32 *size)
 {
-	*strings = btf->strings;
-	*str_len = btf->hdr->str_len;
+	*size = btf->data_size;
+	return btf->data;
 }
 
 const char *btf__name_by_offset(const struct btf *btf, __u32 offset)
@@ -584,7 +593,7 @@ int btf__get_map_kv_tids(const struct btf *btf, const char *map_name,
 	return 0;
 }
 
-struct btf_ext_sec_copy_param {
+struct btf_ext_sec_setup_param {
 	__u32 off;
 	__u32 len;
 	__u32 min_rec_size;
@@ -592,20 +601,14 @@ struct btf_ext_sec_copy_param {
 	const char *desc;
 };
 
-static int btf_ext_copy_info(struct btf_ext *btf_ext,
-			     __u8 *data, __u32 data_size,
-			     struct btf_ext_sec_copy_param *ext_sec)
+static int btf_ext_setup_info(struct btf_ext *btf_ext,
+			      struct btf_ext_sec_setup_param *ext_sec)
 {
-	const struct btf_ext_header *hdr = (struct btf_ext_header *)data;
 	const struct btf_ext_info_sec *sinfo;
 	struct btf_ext_info *ext_info;
 	__u32 info_left, record_size;
 	/* The start of the info sec (including the __u32 record_size). */
-	const void *info;
-
-	/* data and data_size do not include btf_ext_header from now on */
-	data = data + hdr->hdr_len;
-	data_size -= hdr->hdr_len;
+	void *info;
 
 	if (ext_sec->off & 0x03) {
 		pr_debug(".BTF.ext %s section is not aligned to 4 bytes\n",
@@ -613,16 +616,15 @@ static int btf_ext_copy_info(struct btf_ext *btf_ext,
 		return -EINVAL;
 	}
 
-	if (data_size < ext_sec->off ||
-	    ext_sec->len > data_size - ext_sec->off) {
+	info = btf_ext->data + btf_ext->hdr->hdr_len + ext_sec->off;
+	info_left = ext_sec->len;
+
+	if (btf_ext->data + btf_ext->data_size < info + ext_sec->len) {
 		pr_debug("%s section (off:%u len:%u) is beyond the end of the ELF section .BTF.ext\n",
-		     ext_sec->desc, ext_sec->off, ext_sec->len);
+			 ext_sec->desc, ext_sec->off, ext_sec->len);
 		return -EINVAL;
 	}
 
-	info = data + ext_sec->off;
-	info_left = ext_sec->len;
-
 	/* At least a record size */
 	if (info_left < sizeof(__u32)) {
 		pr_debug(".BTF.ext %s record size not found\n", ext_sec->desc);
@@ -634,7 +636,7 @@ static int btf_ext_copy_info(struct btf_ext *btf_ext,
 	if (record_size < ext_sec->min_rec_size ||
 	    record_size & 0x03) {
 		pr_debug("%s section in .BTF.ext has invalid record size %u\n",
-		     ext_sec->desc, record_size);
+			 ext_sec->desc, record_size);
 		return -EINVAL;
 	}
 
@@ -680,42 +682,35 @@ static int btf_ext_copy_info(struct btf_ext *btf_ext,
 	ext_info = ext_sec->ext_info;
 	ext_info->len = ext_sec->len - sizeof(__u32);
 	ext_info->rec_size = record_size;
-	ext_info->info = malloc(ext_info->len);
-	if (!ext_info->info)
-		return -ENOMEM;
-	memcpy(ext_info->info, info + sizeof(__u32), ext_info->len);
+	ext_info->info = info + sizeof(__u32);
 
 	return 0;
 }
 
-static int btf_ext_copy_func_info(struct btf_ext *btf_ext,
-				  __u8 *data, __u32 data_size)
+static int btf_ext_setup_func_info(struct btf_ext *btf_ext)
 {
-	const struct btf_ext_header *hdr = (struct btf_ext_header *)data;
-	struct btf_ext_sec_copy_param param = {
-		.off = hdr->func_info_off,
-		.len = hdr->func_info_len,
+	struct btf_ext_sec_setup_param param = {
+		.off = btf_ext->hdr->func_info_off,
+		.len = btf_ext->hdr->func_info_len,
 		.min_rec_size = sizeof(struct bpf_func_info_min),
 		.ext_info = &btf_ext->func_info,
 		.desc = "func_info"
 	};
 
-	return btf_ext_copy_info(btf_ext, data, data_size, &param);
+	return btf_ext_setup_info(btf_ext, &param);
 }
 
-static int btf_ext_copy_line_info(struct btf_ext *btf_ext,
-				  __u8 *data, __u32 data_size)
+static int btf_ext_setup_line_info(struct btf_ext *btf_ext)
 {
-	const struct btf_ext_header *hdr = (struct btf_ext_header *)data;
-	struct btf_ext_sec_copy_param param = {
-		.off = hdr->line_info_off,
-		.len = hdr->line_info_len,
+	struct btf_ext_sec_setup_param param = {
+		.off = btf_ext->hdr->line_info_off,
+		.len = btf_ext->hdr->line_info_len,
 		.min_rec_size = sizeof(struct bpf_line_info_min),
 		.ext_info = &btf_ext->line_info,
 		.desc = "line_info",
 	};
 
-	return btf_ext_copy_info(btf_ext, data, data_size, &param);
+	return btf_ext_setup_info(btf_ext, &param);
 }
 
 static int btf_ext_parse_hdr(__u8 *data, __u32 data_size)
@@ -755,9 +750,7 @@ void btf_ext__free(struct btf_ext *btf_ext)
 {
 	if (!btf_ext)
 		return;
-
-	free(btf_ext->func_info.info);
-	free(btf_ext->line_info.info);
+	free(btf_ext->data);
 	free(btf_ext);
 }
 
@@ -774,13 +767,23 @@ struct btf_ext *btf_ext__new(__u8 *data, __u32 size)
 	if (!btf_ext)
 		return ERR_PTR(-ENOMEM);
 
-	err = btf_ext_copy_func_info(btf_ext, data, size);
-	if (err) {
-		btf_ext__free(btf_ext);
-		return ERR_PTR(err);
+	btf_ext->data_size = size;
+	btf_ext->data = malloc(size);
+	if (!btf_ext->data) {
+		err = -ENOMEM;
+		goto done;
 	}
+	memcpy(btf_ext->data, data, size);
 
-	err = btf_ext_copy_line_info(btf_ext, data, size);
+	err = btf_ext_setup_func_info(btf_ext);
+	if (err)
+		goto done;
+
+	err = btf_ext_setup_line_info(btf_ext);
+	if (err)
+		goto done;
+
+done:
 	if (err) {
 		btf_ext__free(btf_ext);
 		return ERR_PTR(err);
@@ -789,6 +792,12 @@ struct btf_ext *btf_ext__new(__u8 *data, __u32 size)
 	return btf_ext;
 }
 
+const void *btf_ext__get_raw_data(const struct btf_ext *btf_ext, __u32 *size)
+{
+	*size = btf_ext->data_size;
+	return btf_ext->data;
+}
+
 static int btf_ext_reloc_info(const struct btf *btf,
 			      const struct btf_ext_info *ext_info,
 			      const char *sec_name, __u32 insns_cnt,
@@ -837,7 +846,8 @@ static int btf_ext_reloc_info(const struct btf *btf,
 	return -ENOENT;
 }
 
-int btf_ext__reloc_func_info(const struct btf *btf, const struct btf_ext *btf_ext,
+int btf_ext__reloc_func_info(const struct btf *btf,
+			     const struct btf_ext *btf_ext,
 			     const char *sec_name, __u32 insns_cnt,
 			     void **func_info, __u32 *cnt)
 {
@@ -845,7 +855,8 @@ int btf_ext__reloc_func_info(const struct btf *btf, const struct btf_ext *btf_ex
 				  insns_cnt, func_info, cnt);
 }
 
-int btf_ext__reloc_line_info(const struct btf *btf, const struct btf_ext *btf_ext,
+int btf_ext__reloc_line_info(const struct btf *btf,
+			     const struct btf_ext *btf_ext,
 			     const char *sec_name, __u32 insns_cnt,
 			     void **line_info, __u32 *cnt)
 {
diff --git a/tools/lib/bpf/btf.h b/tools/lib/bpf/btf.h
index b393da90cc8511a1cf24cb3954b6b23d9f5d8d91..94bbc249b0f1ddcbeb8dc7504fc29dc2449e8041 100644
--- a/tools/lib/bpf/btf.h
+++ b/tools/lib/bpf/btf.h
@@ -57,6 +57,7 @@ struct btf_ext_header {
 
 LIBBPF_API void btf__free(struct btf *btf);
 LIBBPF_API struct btf *btf__new(__u8 *data, __u32 size);
+LIBBPF_API int btf__load(struct btf *btf);
 LIBBPF_API __s32 btf__find_by_name(const struct btf *btf,
 				   const char *type_name);
 LIBBPF_API __u32 btf__get_nr_types(const struct btf *btf);
@@ -65,8 +66,7 @@ LIBBPF_API const struct btf_type *btf__type_by_id(const struct btf *btf,
 LIBBPF_API __s64 btf__resolve_size(const struct btf *btf, __u32 type_id);
 LIBBPF_API int btf__resolve_type(const struct btf *btf, __u32 type_id);
 LIBBPF_API int btf__fd(const struct btf *btf);
-LIBBPF_API void btf__get_strings(const struct btf *btf, const char **strings,
-				 __u32 *str_len);
+LIBBPF_API const void *btf__get_raw_data(const struct btf *btf, __u32 *size);
 LIBBPF_API const char *btf__name_by_offset(const struct btf *btf, __u32 offset);
 LIBBPF_API int btf__get_from_id(__u32 id, struct btf **btf);
 LIBBPF_API int btf__get_map_kv_tids(const struct btf *btf, const char *map_name,
@@ -76,6 +76,8 @@ LIBBPF_API int btf__get_map_kv_tids(const struct btf *btf, const char *map_name,
 
 LIBBPF_API struct btf_ext *btf_ext__new(__u8 *data, __u32 size);
 LIBBPF_API void btf_ext__free(struct btf_ext *btf_ext);
+LIBBPF_API const void *btf_ext__get_raw_data(const struct btf_ext* btf_ext,
+					     __u32 *size);
 LIBBPF_API int btf_ext__reloc_func_info(const struct btf *btf,
 					const struct btf_ext *btf_ext,
 					const char *sec_name, __u32 insns_cnt,
diff --git a/tools/lib/bpf/libbpf.c b/tools/lib/bpf/libbpf.c
index 8d64ada5f7284b3bcc929c2b2066631c85f39da5..e3c39edfb9d3c701e61cf1dc29b82127dcc6a9ca 100644
--- a/tools/lib/bpf/libbpf.c
+++ b/tools/lib/bpf/libbpf.c
@@ -836,7 +836,7 @@ static int bpf_object__elf_collect(struct bpf_object *obj, int flags)
 			obj->efile.maps_shndx = idx;
 		else if (strcmp(name, BTF_ELF_SEC) == 0) {
 			obj->btf = btf__new(data->d_buf, data->d_size);
-			if (IS_ERR(obj->btf)) {
+			if (IS_ERR(obj->btf) || btf__load(obj->btf)) {
 				pr_warning("Error loading ELF section %s: %ld. Ignored and continue.\n",
 					   BTF_ELF_SEC, PTR_ERR(obj->btf));
 				obj->btf = NULL;
diff --git a/tools/lib/bpf/libbpf.map b/tools/lib/bpf/libbpf.map
index 89c1149e32eece93378bbcdc4be8c807f8f26807..5fc8222209f8878c9c1db7b530a00f5282d5b941 100644
--- a/tools/lib/bpf/libbpf.map
+++ b/tools/lib/bpf/libbpf.map
@@ -136,9 +136,11 @@ LIBBPF_0.0.2 {
 		btf__dedup;
 		btf__get_map_kv_tids;
 		btf__get_nr_types;
-		btf__get_strings;
+		btf__get_raw_data;
+		btf__load;
 		btf_ext__free;
 		btf_ext__func_info_rec_size;
+		btf_ext__get_raw_data;
 		btf_ext__line_info_rec_size;
 		btf_ext__new;
 		btf_ext__reloc_func_info;
diff --git a/tools/testing/selftests/bpf/test_btf.c b/tools/testing/selftests/bpf/test_btf.c
index 447acc34db949382b9689cd493f930031015e1be..bbcacba39590a4aa75aaecf29d3d04095848a3f6 100644
--- a/tools/testing/selftests/bpf/test_btf.c
+++ b/tools/testing/selftests/bpf/test_btf.c
@@ -5882,15 +5882,17 @@ static void dump_btf_strings(const char *strs, __u32 len)
 static int do_test_dedup(unsigned int test_num)
 {
 	const struct btf_dedup_test *test = &dedup_tests[test_num - 1];
-	int err = 0, i;
-	__u32 test_nr_types, expect_nr_types, test_str_len, expect_str_len;
-	void *raw_btf;
-	unsigned int raw_btf_size;
+	__u32 test_nr_types, expect_nr_types, test_btf_size, expect_btf_size;
+	const struct btf_header *test_hdr, *expect_hdr;
 	struct btf *test_btf = NULL, *expect_btf = NULL;
+	const void *test_btf_data, *expect_btf_data;
 	const char *ret_test_next_str, *ret_expect_next_str;
 	const char *test_strs, *expect_strs;
 	const char *test_str_cur, *test_str_end;
 	const char *expect_str_cur, *expect_str_end;
+	unsigned int raw_btf_size;
+	void *raw_btf;
+	int err = 0, i;
 
 	fprintf(stderr, "BTF dedup test[%u] (%s):", test_num, test->descr);
 
@@ -5927,23 +5929,34 @@ static int do_test_dedup(unsigned int test_num)
 		goto done;
 	}
 
-	btf__get_strings(test_btf, &test_strs, &test_str_len);
-	btf__get_strings(expect_btf, &expect_strs, &expect_str_len);
-	if (CHECK(test_str_len != expect_str_len,
-		  "test_str_len:%u != expect_str_len:%u",
-		  test_str_len, expect_str_len)) {
+	test_btf_data = btf__get_raw_data(test_btf, &test_btf_size);
+	expect_btf_data = btf__get_raw_data(expect_btf, &expect_btf_size);
+	if (CHECK(test_btf_size != expect_btf_size,
+		  "test_btf_size:%u != expect_btf_size:%u",
+		  test_btf_size, expect_btf_size)) {
+		err = -1;
+		goto done;
+	}
+
+	test_hdr = test_btf_data;
+	test_strs = test_btf_data + test_hdr->str_off;
+	expect_hdr = expect_btf_data;
+	expect_strs = expect_btf_data + expect_hdr->str_off;
+	if (CHECK(test_hdr->str_len != expect_hdr->str_len,
+		  "test_hdr->str_len:%u != expect_hdr->str_len:%u",
+		  test_hdr->str_len, expect_hdr->str_len)) {
 		fprintf(stderr, "\ntest strings:\n");
-		dump_btf_strings(test_strs, test_str_len);
+		dump_btf_strings(test_strs, test_hdr->str_len);
 		fprintf(stderr, "\nexpected strings:\n");
-		dump_btf_strings(expect_strs, expect_str_len);
+		dump_btf_strings(expect_strs, expect_hdr->str_len);
 		err = -1;
 		goto done;
 	}
 
 	test_str_cur = test_strs;
-	test_str_end = test_strs + test_str_len;
+	test_str_end = test_strs + test_hdr->str_len;
 	expect_str_cur = expect_strs;
-	expect_str_end = expect_strs + expect_str_len;
+	expect_str_end = expect_strs + expect_hdr->str_len;
 	while (test_str_cur < test_str_end && expect_str_cur < expect_str_end) {
 		size_t test_len, expect_len;