diff --git a/tools/lib/bpf/libbpf.c b/tools/lib/bpf/libbpf.c
index 2e84fa5b847950..2b57d7ea78363a 100644
--- a/tools/lib/bpf/libbpf.c
+++ b/tools/lib/bpf/libbpf.c
@@ -2472,7 +2472,11 @@ 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;
-	btf_fd = bpf_object__btf_fd(prog->obj);
+	/* if .BTF.ext was loaded, kernel supports associated BTF for prog */
+	if (prog->obj->btf_ext)
+		btf_fd = bpf_object__btf_fd(prog->obj);
+	else
+		btf_fd = -1;
 	load_attr.prog_btf_fd = btf_fd >= 0 ? btf_fd : 0;
 	load_attr.func_info = prog->func_info;
 	load_attr.func_info_rec_size = prog->func_info_rec_size;