diff --git a/src/libbpf.c b/src/libbpf.c
index efab29b..124883e 100644
--- a/src/libbpf.c
+++ b/src/libbpf.c
@@ -7317,9 +7317,9 @@ static int bpf_object_load_prog(struct bpf_object *obj, struct bpf_program *prog
 	char *cp, errmsg[STRERR_BUFSIZE];
 	size_t log_buf_size = 0;
 	char *log_buf = NULL, *tmp;
-	int btf_fd, ret, err;
 	bool own_log_buf = true;
 	__u32 log_level = prog->log_level;
+	int ret, err;
 
 	if (prog->type == BPF_PROG_TYPE_UNSPEC) {
 		/*
@@ -7343,9 +7343,8 @@ static int bpf_object_load_prog(struct bpf_object *obj, struct bpf_program *prog
 	load_attr.prog_ifindex = prog->prog_ifindex;
 
 	/* specify func_info/line_info only if kernel supports them */
-	btf_fd = btf__fd(obj->btf);
-	if (btf_fd >= 0 && kernel_supports(obj, FEAT_BTF_FUNC)) {
-		load_attr.prog_btf_fd = btf_fd;
+	if (obj->btf && btf__fd(obj->btf) >= 0 && kernel_supports(obj, FEAT_BTF_FUNC)) {
+		load_attr.prog_btf_fd = btf__fd(obj->btf);
 		load_attr.func_info = prog->func_info;
 		load_attr.func_info_rec_size = prog->func_info_rec_size;
 		load_attr.func_info_cnt = prog->func_info_cnt;