diff --git a/tools/lib/bpf/libbpf.c b/tools/lib/bpf/libbpf.c
index 2dfe07a872fcbd9483d51f46921e65968c31eee4..c9f5eef6d3d80502f6ca23e4c6902a448f0c8925 100644
--- a/tools/lib/bpf/libbpf.c
+++ b/tools/lib/bpf/libbpf.c
@@ -10924,6 +10924,9 @@ void bpf_object__detach_skeleton(struct bpf_object_skeleton *s)
 
 void bpf_object__destroy_skeleton(struct bpf_object_skeleton *s)
 {
+	if (!s)
+		return;
+
 	if (s->progs)
 		bpf_object__detach_skeleton(s);
 	if (s->obj)