diff --git a/tools/lib/bpf/libbpf.c b/tools/lib/bpf/libbpf.c
index eeb2693128d8..10f15a3e3a95 100644
--- a/tools/lib/bpf/libbpf.c
+++ b/tools/lib/bpf/libbpf.c
@@ -8173,6 +8173,7 @@ void bpf_object__close(struct bpf_object *obj)
 	bpf_object__elf_finish(obj);
 	bpf_object_unload(obj);
 	btf__free(obj->btf);
+	btf__free(obj->btf_vmlinux);
 	btf_ext__free(obj->btf_ext);
 
 	for (i = 0; i < obj->nr_maps; i++)