diff --git a/tools/bpf/bpftool/main.c b/tools/bpf/bpftool/main.c
index cd5963cb6058..2b7f2bd3a7db 100644
--- a/tools/bpf/bpftool/main.c
+++ b/tools/bpf/bpftool/main.c
@@ -534,9 +534,9 @@ int main(int argc, char **argv)
 		usage();
 
 	if (version_requested)
-		return do_version(argc, argv);
-
-	ret = cmd_select(commands, argc, argv, do_help);
+		ret = do_version(argc, argv);
+	else
+		ret = cmd_select(commands, argc, argv, do_help);
 
 	if (json_output)
 		jsonw_destroy(&json_wtr);