diff --git a/tools/lib/bpf/libbpf.c b/tools/lib/bpf/libbpf.c
index 1781d0edcdf0b5fb0a90a6960c7ffeed6e05f776..fa45f5643c9b2a6dec67a10cc81973fca53a1f81 100644
--- a/tools/lib/bpf/libbpf.c
+++ b/tools/lib/bpf/libbpf.c
@@ -6860,7 +6860,8 @@ int bpf_object__load_xattr(struct bpf_object_load_attr *attr)
 
 	if (obj->gen_loader) {
 		/* reset FDs */
-		btf__set_fd(obj->btf, -1);
+		if (obj->btf)
+			btf__set_fd(obj->btf, -1);
 		for (i = 0; i < obj->nr_maps; i++)
 			obj->maps[i].fd = -1;
 		if (!err)