diff --git a/src/linker.c b/src/linker.c
index e0005c6..6985ab0 100644
--- a/src/linker.c
+++ b/src/linker.c
@@ -396,6 +396,8 @@ static int init_output_elf(struct bpf_linker *linker, const char *file)
 		pr_warn_elf("failed to create SYMTAB data");
 		return -EINVAL;
 	}
+	/* Ensure libelf translates byte-order of symbol records */
+	sec->data->d_type = ELF_T_SYM;
 
 	str_off = strset__add_str(linker->strtab_strs, sec->sec_name);
 	if (str_off < 0)