diff --git a/tools/perf/util/bpf-event.c b/tools/perf/util/bpf-event.c
index 2c09842469f1..fe01551dc3e6 100644
--- a/tools/perf/util/bpf-event.c
+++ b/tools/perf/util/bpf-event.c
@@ -146,7 +146,8 @@ static int synthesize_bpf_prog_name(char *buf, int size,
 	if (btf) {
 		finfo = func_infos + sub_id * info->func_info_rec_size;
 		t = btf__type_by_id(btf, finfo->type_id);
-		short_name = btf__name_by_offset(btf, t->name_off);
+		if (t)
+			short_name = btf__name_by_offset(btf, t->name_off);
 	} else if (sub_id == 0 && sub_prog_cnt == 1) {
 		/* no subprog */
 		if (info->name[0])