diff --git a/tools/lib/bpf/libbpf.c b/tools/lib/bpf/libbpf.c
index 29e9df0c232b..8c3f236c86e4 100644
--- a/tools/lib/bpf/libbpf.c
+++ b/tools/lib/bpf/libbpf.c
@@ -4115,6 +4115,9 @@ static struct bpf_program *find_prog_by_sec_insn(const struct bpf_object *obj,
 	int l = 0, r = obj->nr_programs - 1, m;
 	struct bpf_program *prog;
 
+	if (!obj->nr_programs)
+		return NULL;
+
 	while (l < r) {
 		m = l + (r - l + 1) / 2;
 		prog = &obj->programs[m];