diff --git a/tools/lib/bpf/libbpf.c b/tools/lib/bpf/libbpf.c
index cb6565d79603..f022ac82e882 100644
--- a/tools/lib/bpf/libbpf.c
+++ b/tools/lib/bpf/libbpf.c
@@ -1387,7 +1387,7 @@ load_program(struct bpf_program *prog, struct bpf_insn *insns, int insns_cnt,
 	load_attr.license = license;
 	load_attr.kern_version = kern_version;
 	load_attr.prog_ifindex = prog->prog_ifindex;
-	load_attr.prog_btf_fd = prog->btf_fd;
+	load_attr.prog_btf_fd = prog->btf_fd >= 0 ? prog->btf_fd : 0;
 	load_attr.func_info = prog->func_info;
 	load_attr.func_info_rec_size = prog->func_info_rec_size;
 	load_attr.func_info_cnt = func_info_cnt;