diff --git a/tools/lib/bpf/libbpf.c b/tools/lib/bpf/libbpf.c
index 76d1e29a26523643949698bd59fe2d98201e9ba8..c082c93d37c255e1507fe77b0c5c086e1e620f7e 100644
--- a/tools/lib/bpf/libbpf.c
+++ b/tools/lib/bpf/libbpf.c
@@ -1848,6 +1848,8 @@ static int bpf_object__init_user_maps(struct bpf_object *obj, bool strict)
 			continue;
 		if (sym.st_shndx != obj->efile.maps_shndx)
 			continue;
+		if (GELF_ST_TYPE(sym.st_info) == STT_SECTION)
+			continue;
 		nr_maps++;
 	}
 	/* Assume equally sized map definitions */