diff --git a/tools/lib/bpf/libbpf.c b/tools/lib/bpf/libbpf.c
index 9d99183bffba..62ed073ea944 100644
--- a/tools/lib/bpf/libbpf.c
+++ b/tools/lib/bpf/libbpf.c
@@ -218,8 +218,7 @@ struct reloc_desc {
 
 struct bpf_sec_def;
 
-typedef struct bpf_link *(*attach_fn_t)(const struct bpf_sec_def *sec,
-					struct bpf_program *prog);
+typedef struct bpf_link *(*attach_fn_t)(struct bpf_program *prog);
 
 struct bpf_sec_def {
 	const char *sec;
@@ -6373,12 +6372,37 @@ bpf_object__load_progs(struct bpf_object *obj, int log_level)
 
 static const struct bpf_sec_def *find_sec_def(const char *sec_name);
 
+static int bpf_object_init_progs(struct bpf_object *obj, const struct bpf_object_open_opts *opts)
+{
+	struct bpf_program *prog;
+
+	bpf_object__for_each_program(prog, obj) {
+		prog->sec_def = find_sec_def(prog->sec_name);
+		if (!prog->sec_def) {
+			/* couldn't guess, but user might manually specify */
+			pr_debug("prog '%s': unrecognized ELF section name '%s'\n",
+				prog->name, prog->sec_name);
+			continue;
+		}
+
+		if (prog->sec_def->is_sleepable)
+			prog->prog_flags |= BPF_F_SLEEPABLE;
+		bpf_program__set_type(prog, prog->sec_def->prog_type);
+		bpf_program__set_expected_attach_type(prog, prog->sec_def->expected_attach_type);
+
+		if (prog->sec_def->prog_type == BPF_PROG_TYPE_TRACING ||
+		    prog->sec_def->prog_type == BPF_PROG_TYPE_EXT)
+			prog->attach_prog_fd = OPTS_GET(opts, attach_prog_fd, 0);
+	}
+
+	return 0;
+}
+
 static struct bpf_object *
 __bpf_object__open(const char *path, const void *obj_buf, size_t obj_buf_sz,
 		   const struct bpf_object_open_opts *opts)
 {
 	const char *obj_name, *kconfig, *btf_tmp_path;
-	struct bpf_program *prog;
 	struct bpf_object *obj;
 	char tmp_name[64];
 	int err;
@@ -6436,31 +6460,13 @@ __bpf_object__open(const char *path, const void *obj_buf, size_t obj_buf_sz,
 	err = err ? : bpf_object__collect_externs(obj);
 	err = err ? : bpf_object__finalize_btf(obj);
 	err = err ? : bpf_object__init_maps(obj, opts);
+	err = err ? : bpf_object_init_progs(obj, opts);
 	err = err ? : bpf_object__collect_relos(obj);
 	if (err)
 		goto out;
+
 	bpf_object__elf_finish(obj);
 
-	bpf_object__for_each_program(prog, obj) {
-		prog->sec_def = find_sec_def(prog->sec_name);
-		if (!prog->sec_def) {
-			/* couldn't guess, but user might manually specify */
-			pr_debug("prog '%s': unrecognized ELF section name '%s'\n",
-				prog->name, prog->sec_name);
-			continue;
-		}
-
-		if (prog->sec_def->is_sleepable)
-			prog->prog_flags |= BPF_F_SLEEPABLE;
-		bpf_program__set_type(prog, prog->sec_def->prog_type);
-		bpf_program__set_expected_attach_type(prog,
-				prog->sec_def->expected_attach_type);
-
-		if (prog->sec_def->prog_type == BPF_PROG_TYPE_TRACING ||
-		    prog->sec_def->prog_type == BPF_PROG_TYPE_EXT)
-			prog->attach_prog_fd = OPTS_GET(opts, attach_prog_fd, 0);
-	}
-
 	return obj;
 out:
 	bpf_object__close(obj);
@@ -7913,18 +7919,12 @@ void bpf_program__set_expected_attach_type(struct bpf_program *prog,
 	__VA_ARGS__							    \
 }
 
-static struct bpf_link *attach_kprobe(const struct bpf_sec_def *sec,
-				      struct bpf_program *prog);
-static struct bpf_link *attach_tp(const struct bpf_sec_def *sec,
-				  struct bpf_program *prog);
-static struct bpf_link *attach_raw_tp(const struct bpf_sec_def *sec,
-				      struct bpf_program *prog);
-static struct bpf_link *attach_trace(const struct bpf_sec_def *sec,
-				     struct bpf_program *prog);
-static struct bpf_link *attach_lsm(const struct bpf_sec_def *sec,
-				   struct bpf_program *prog);
-static struct bpf_link *attach_iter(const struct bpf_sec_def *sec,
-				    struct bpf_program *prog);
+static struct bpf_link *attach_kprobe(struct bpf_program *prog);
+static struct bpf_link *attach_tp(struct bpf_program *prog);
+static struct bpf_link *attach_raw_tp(struct bpf_program *prog);
+static struct bpf_link *attach_trace(struct bpf_program *prog);
+static struct bpf_link *attach_lsm(struct bpf_program *prog);
+static struct bpf_link *attach_iter(struct bpf_program *prog);
 
 static const struct bpf_sec_def section_defs[] = {
 	BPF_PROG_SEC("socket",			BPF_PROG_TYPE_SOCKET_FILTER),
@@ -8250,35 +8250,37 @@ static int bpf_object__collect_st_ops_relos(struct bpf_object *obj,
 			return -EINVAL;
 		}
 
-		if (prog->type == BPF_PROG_TYPE_UNSPEC) {
-			const struct bpf_sec_def *sec_def;
+		/* prevent the use of BPF prog with invalid type */
+		if (prog->type != BPF_PROG_TYPE_STRUCT_OPS) {
+			pr_warn("struct_ops reloc %s: prog %s is not struct_ops BPF program\n",
+				map->name, prog->name);
+			return -EINVAL;
+		}
 
-			sec_def = find_sec_def(prog->sec_name);
-			if (sec_def &&
-			    sec_def->prog_type != BPF_PROG_TYPE_STRUCT_OPS) {
-				/* for pr_warn */
-				prog->type = sec_def->prog_type;
-				goto invalid_prog;
-			}
-
-			prog->type = BPF_PROG_TYPE_STRUCT_OPS;
+		/* if we haven't yet processed this BPF program, record proper
+		 * attach_btf_id and member_idx
+		 */
+		if (!prog->attach_btf_id) {
 			prog->attach_btf_id = st_ops->type_id;
 			prog->expected_attach_type = member_idx;
-		} else if (prog->type != BPF_PROG_TYPE_STRUCT_OPS ||
-			   prog->attach_btf_id != st_ops->type_id ||
-			   prog->expected_attach_type != member_idx) {
-			goto invalid_prog;
 		}
+
+		/* struct_ops BPF prog can be re-used between multiple
+		 * .struct_ops as long as it's the same struct_ops struct
+		 * definition and the same function pointer field
+		 */
+		if (prog->attach_btf_id != st_ops->type_id ||
+		    prog->expected_attach_type != member_idx) {
+			pr_warn("struct_ops reloc %s: cannot use prog %s in sec %s with type %u attach_btf_id %u expected_attach_type %u for func ptr %s\n",
+				map->name, prog->name, prog->sec_name, prog->type,
+				prog->attach_btf_id, prog->expected_attach_type, name);
+			return -EINVAL;
+		}
+
 		st_ops->progs[member_idx] = prog;
 	}
 
 	return 0;
-
-invalid_prog:
-	pr_warn("struct_ops reloc %s: cannot use prog %s in sec %s with type %u attach_btf_id %u expected_attach_type %u for func ptr %s\n",
-		map->name, prog->name, prog->sec_name, prog->type,
-		prog->attach_btf_id, prog->expected_attach_type, name);
-	return -EINVAL;
 }
 
 #define BTF_TRACE_PREFIX "btf_trace_"
@@ -8436,22 +8438,13 @@ static int libbpf_find_attach_btf_id(struct bpf_program *prog, int *btf_obj_fd,
 	__u32 attach_prog_fd = prog->attach_prog_fd;
 	const char *name = prog->sec_name, *attach_name;
 	const struct bpf_sec_def *sec = NULL;
-	int i, err = 0;
+	int err = 0;
 
 	if (!name)
 		return -EINVAL;
 
-	for (i = 0; i < ARRAY_SIZE(section_defs); i++) {
-		if (!section_defs[i].is_attach_btf)
-			continue;
-		if (strncmp(name, section_defs[i].sec, section_defs[i].len))
-			continue;
-
-		sec = &section_defs[i];
-		break;
-	}
-
-	if (!sec) {
+	sec = find_sec_def(name);
+	if (!sec || !sec->is_attach_btf) {
 		pr_warn("failed to identify BTF ID based on ELF section name '%s'\n", name);
 		return -ESRCH;
 	}
@@ -8489,27 +8482,28 @@ int libbpf_attach_type_by_name(const char *name,
 			       enum bpf_attach_type *attach_type)
 {
 	char *type_names;
-	int i;
+	const struct bpf_sec_def *sec_def;
 
 	if (!name)
 		return libbpf_err(-EINVAL);
 
-	for (i = 0; i < ARRAY_SIZE(section_defs); i++) {
-		if (strncmp(name, section_defs[i].sec, section_defs[i].len))
-			continue;
-		if (!section_defs[i].is_attachable)
-			return libbpf_err(-EINVAL);
-		*attach_type = section_defs[i].expected_attach_type;
-		return 0;
-	}
-	pr_debug("failed to guess attach type based on ELF section name '%s'\n", name);
-	type_names = libbpf_get_type_names(true);
-	if (type_names != NULL) {
-		pr_debug("attachable section(type) names are:%s\n", type_names);
-		free(type_names);
+	sec_def = find_sec_def(name);
+	if (!sec_def) {
+		pr_debug("failed to guess attach type based on ELF section name '%s'\n", name);
+		type_names = libbpf_get_type_names(true);
+		if (type_names != NULL) {
+			pr_debug("attachable section(type) names are:%s\n", type_names);
+			free(type_names);
+		}
+
+		return libbpf_err(-EINVAL);
 	}
 
-	return libbpf_err(-EINVAL);
+	if (!sec_def->is_attachable)
+		return libbpf_err(-EINVAL);
+
+	*attach_type = sec_def->expected_attach_type;
+	return 0;
 }
 
 int bpf_map__fd(const struct bpf_map *map)
@@ -9382,8 +9376,7 @@ struct bpf_link *bpf_program__attach_kprobe(struct bpf_program *prog,
 	return bpf_program__attach_kprobe_opts(prog, func_name, &opts);
 }
 
-static struct bpf_link *attach_kprobe(const struct bpf_sec_def *sec,
-				      struct bpf_program *prog)
+static struct bpf_link *attach_kprobe(struct bpf_program *prog)
 {
 	DECLARE_LIBBPF_OPTS(bpf_kprobe_opts, opts);
 	unsigned long offset = 0;
@@ -9392,8 +9385,8 @@ static struct bpf_link *attach_kprobe(const struct bpf_sec_def *sec,
 	char *func;
 	int n, err;
 
-	func_name = prog->sec_name + sec->len;
-	opts.retprobe = strcmp(sec->sec, "kretprobe/") == 0;
+	func_name = prog->sec_name + prog->sec_def->len;
+	opts.retprobe = strcmp(prog->sec_def->sec, "kretprobe/") == 0;
 
 	n = sscanf(func_name, "%m[a-zA-Z0-9_.]+%li", &func, &offset);
 	if (n < 1) {
@@ -9556,8 +9549,7 @@ struct bpf_link *bpf_program__attach_tracepoint(struct bpf_program *prog,
 	return bpf_program__attach_tracepoint_opts(prog, tp_category, tp_name, NULL);
 }
 
-static struct bpf_link *attach_tp(const struct bpf_sec_def *sec,
-				  struct bpf_program *prog)
+static struct bpf_link *attach_tp(struct bpf_program *prog)
 {
 	char *sec_name, *tp_cat, *tp_name;
 	struct bpf_link *link;
@@ -9567,7 +9559,7 @@ static struct bpf_link *attach_tp(const struct bpf_sec_def *sec,
 		return libbpf_err_ptr(-ENOMEM);
 
 	/* extract "tp/<category>/<name>" */
-	tp_cat = sec_name + sec->len;
+	tp_cat = sec_name + prog->sec_def->len;
 	tp_name = strchr(tp_cat, '/');
 	if (!tp_name) {
 		free(sec_name);
@@ -9611,10 +9603,9 @@ struct bpf_link *bpf_program__attach_raw_tracepoint(struct bpf_program *prog,
 	return link;
 }
 
-static struct bpf_link *attach_raw_tp(const struct bpf_sec_def *sec,
-				      struct bpf_program *prog)
+static struct bpf_link *attach_raw_tp(struct bpf_program *prog)
 {
-	const char *tp_name = prog->sec_name + sec->len;
+	const char *tp_name = prog->sec_name + prog->sec_def->len;
 
 	return bpf_program__attach_raw_tracepoint(prog, tp_name);
 }
@@ -9659,14 +9650,12 @@ struct bpf_link *bpf_program__attach_lsm(struct bpf_program *prog)
 	return bpf_program__attach_btf_id(prog);
 }
 
-static struct bpf_link *attach_trace(const struct bpf_sec_def *sec,
-				     struct bpf_program *prog)
+static struct bpf_link *attach_trace(struct bpf_program *prog)
 {
 	return bpf_program__attach_trace(prog);
 }
 
-static struct bpf_link *attach_lsm(const struct bpf_sec_def *sec,
-				   struct bpf_program *prog)
+static struct bpf_link *attach_lsm(struct bpf_program *prog)
 {
 	return bpf_program__attach_lsm(prog);
 }
@@ -9797,21 +9786,17 @@ bpf_program__attach_iter(struct bpf_program *prog,
 	return link;
 }
 
-static struct bpf_link *attach_iter(const struct bpf_sec_def *sec,
-				    struct bpf_program *prog)
+static struct bpf_link *attach_iter(struct bpf_program *prog)
 {
 	return bpf_program__attach_iter(prog, NULL);
 }
 
 struct bpf_link *bpf_program__attach(struct bpf_program *prog)
 {
-	const struct bpf_sec_def *sec_def;
-
-	sec_def = find_sec_def(prog->sec_name);
-	if (!sec_def || !sec_def->attach_fn)
+	if (!prog->sec_def || !prog->sec_def->attach_fn)
 		return libbpf_err_ptr(-ESRCH);
 
-	return sec_def->attach_fn(sec_def, prog);
+	return prog->sec_def->attach_fn(prog);
 }
 
 static int bpf_link__detach_struct_ops(struct bpf_link *link)
@@ -10890,16 +10875,15 @@ int bpf_object__attach_skeleton(struct bpf_object_skeleton *s)
 	for (i = 0; i < s->prog_cnt; i++) {
 		struct bpf_program *prog = *s->progs[i].prog;
 		struct bpf_link **link = s->progs[i].link;
-		const struct bpf_sec_def *sec_def;
 
 		if (!prog->load)
 			continue;
 
-		sec_def = find_sec_def(prog->sec_name);
-		if (!sec_def || !sec_def->attach_fn)
+		/* auto-attaching not supported for this program */
+		if (!prog->sec_def || !prog->sec_def->attach_fn)
 			continue;
 
-		*link = sec_def->attach_fn(sec_def, prog);
+		*link = prog->sec_def->attach_fn(prog);
 		err = libbpf_get_error(*link);
 		if (err) {
 			pr_warn("failed to auto-attach program '%s': %d\n",
diff --git a/tools/testing/selftests/bpf/progs/bpf_cubic.c b/tools/testing/selftests/bpf/progs/bpf_cubic.c
index f62df4d023f9..d9660e7200e2 100644
--- a/tools/testing/selftests/bpf/progs/bpf_cubic.c
+++ b/tools/testing/selftests/bpf/progs/bpf_cubic.c
@@ -169,11 +169,7 @@ static __always_inline void bictcp_hystart_reset(struct sock *sk)
 	ca->sample_cnt = 0;
 }
 
-/* "struct_ops/" prefix is not a requirement
- * It will be recognized as BPF_PROG_TYPE_STRUCT_OPS
- * as long as it is used in one of the func ptr
- * under SEC(".struct_ops").
- */
+/* "struct_ops/" prefix is a requirement */
 SEC("struct_ops/bpf_cubic_init")
 void BPF_PROG(bpf_cubic_init, struct sock *sk)
 {
@@ -188,10 +184,8 @@ void BPF_PROG(bpf_cubic_init, struct sock *sk)
 		tcp_sk(sk)->snd_ssthresh = initial_ssthresh;
 }
 
-/* No prefix in SEC will also work.
- * The remaining tcp-cubic functions have an easier way.
- */
-SEC("no-sec-prefix-bictcp_cwnd_event")
+/* "struct_ops" prefix is a requirement */
+SEC("struct_ops/bpf_cubic_cwnd_event")
 void BPF_PROG(bpf_cubic_cwnd_event, struct sock *sk, enum tcp_ca_event event)
 {
 	if (event == CA_EVENT_TX_START) {