diff --git a/kernel/bpf/btf.c b/kernel/bpf/btf.c
index 8d6bdb4f4d61..84a36ee4a4c2 100644
--- a/kernel/bpf/btf.c
+++ b/kernel/bpf/btf.c
@@ -4172,7 +4172,7 @@ static int btf_parse_hdr(struct btf_verifier_env *env)
 		return -ENOTSUPP;
 	}
 
-	if (btf_data_size == hdr->hdr_len) {
+	if (!btf->base_btf && btf_data_size == hdr->hdr_len) {
 		btf_verifier_log(env, "No data");
 		return -EINVAL;
 	}