diff --git a/tools/bpf/bpftool/btf.c b/tools/bpf/bpftool/btf.c
index 9a9376d1d3df..66765f970bc5 100644
--- a/tools/bpf/bpftool/btf.c
+++ b/tools/bpf/bpftool/btf.c
@@ -510,7 +510,7 @@ static int do_dump(int argc, char **argv)
 			goto done;
 		}
 		if (!btf) {
-			err = ENOENT;
+			err = -ENOENT;
 			p_err("can't find btf with ID (%u)", btf_id);
 			goto done;
 		}