diff --git a/samples/bpf/bpf_load.c b/samples/bpf/bpf_load.c
index 434ea34a5954..eae7b635343d 100644
--- a/samples/bpf/bpf_load.c
+++ b/samples/bpf/bpf_load.c
@@ -58,7 +58,9 @@ static int write_kprobe_events(const char *val)
 {
 	int fd, ret, flags;
 
-	if ((val != NULL) && (val[0] == '\0'))
+	if (val == NULL)
+		return -1;
+	else if (val[0] == '\0')
 		flags = O_WRONLY | O_TRUNC;
 	else
 		flags = O_WRONLY | O_APPEND;