diff --git a/tools/lib/bpf/libbpf.c b/tools/lib/bpf/libbpf.c
index 445ee903f9cd..d86ff8214b96 100644
--- a/tools/lib/bpf/libbpf.c
+++ b/tools/lib/bpf/libbpf.c
@@ -6934,6 +6934,7 @@ int libbpf_find_vmlinux_btf_id(const char *name,
 			       enum bpf_attach_type attach_type)
 {
 	struct btf *btf;
+	int err;
 
 	btf = libbpf_find_kernel_btf();
 	if (IS_ERR(btf)) {
@@ -6941,7 +6942,9 @@ int libbpf_find_vmlinux_btf_id(const char *name,
 		return -EINVAL;
 	}
 
-	return __find_vmlinux_btf_id(btf, name, attach_type);
+	err = __find_vmlinux_btf_id(btf, name, attach_type);
+	btf__free(btf);
+	return err;
 }
 
 static int libbpf_find_prog_btf_id(const char *name, __u32 attach_prog_fd)