diff --git a/tools/lib/bpf/linker.c b/tools/lib/bpf/linker.c
index 6b2f59ddb691..bfe0c30841b9 100644
--- a/tools/lib/bpf/linker.c
+++ b/tools/lib/bpf/linker.c
@@ -2193,10 +2193,17 @@ static int linker_fixup_btf(struct src_obj *obj)
 		vi = btf_var_secinfos(t);
 		for (j = 0, m = btf_vlen(t); j < m; j++, vi++) {
 			const struct btf_type *vt = btf__type_by_id(obj->btf, vi->type);
-			const char *var_name = btf__str_by_offset(obj->btf, vt->name_off);
-			int var_linkage = btf_var(vt)->linkage;
+			const char *var_name;
+			int var_linkage;
 			Elf64_Sym *sym;
 
+			/* could be a variable or function */
+			if (!btf_is_var(vt))
+				continue;
+
+			var_name = btf__str_by_offset(obj->btf, vt->name_off);
+			var_linkage = btf_var(vt)->linkage;
+
 			/* no need to patch up static or extern vars */
 			if (var_linkage != BTF_VAR_GLOBAL_ALLOCATED)
 				continue;