}
 }
 
-static bool bpf_object__is_btf_mandatory(const struct bpf_object *obj)
+static bool libbpf_needs_btf(const struct bpf_object *obj)
 {
-       return obj->efile.st_ops_shndx >= 0 || obj->nr_extern > 0;
+       return obj->efile.btf_maps_shndx >= 0 ||
+              obj->efile.st_ops_shndx >= 0 ||
+              obj->nr_extern > 0;
+}
+
+static bool kernel_needs_btf(const struct bpf_object *obj)
+{
+       return obj->efile.st_ops_shndx >= 0;
 }
 
 static int bpf_object__init_btf(struct bpf_object *obj,
                }
        }
 out:
-       if (err && bpf_object__is_btf_mandatory(obj)) {
+       if (err && libbpf_needs_btf(obj)) {
                pr_warn("BTF is required, but is missing or corrupted.\n");
                return err;
        }
        btf_ext__free(obj->btf_ext);
        obj->btf_ext = NULL;
 
-       if (bpf_object__is_btf_mandatory(obj)) {
+       if (libbpf_needs_btf(obj)) {
                pr_warn("BTF is required, but is missing or corrupted.\n");
                return -ENOENT;
        }
                        obj->btf_ext = NULL;
                }
 
-               if (bpf_object__is_btf_mandatory(obj))
+               if (kernel_needs_btf(obj))
                        return err;
        }
        return 0;