diff --git a/tools/testing/selftests/sched_ext/exit.c b/tools/testing/selftests/sched_ext/exit.c
index b987611789d1..01b17092d5c8 100644
--- a/tools/testing/selftests/sched_ext/exit.c
+++ b/tools/testing/selftests/sched_ext/exit.c
@@ -31,6 +31,7 @@ static enum scx_test_status run(void *ctx)
 			continue;
 
 		skel = exit__open();
+		SCX_FAIL_IF(!skel, "Failed to open");
 		SCX_ENUM_INIT(skel);
 		skel->rodata->exit_point = tc;
 		SCX_FAIL_IF(exit__load(skel), "Failed to load skel");