diff --git a/tools/lib/bpf/libbpf.c b/tools/lib/bpf/libbpf.c
index ef5db34bf913..453148fe8b4b 100644
--- a/tools/lib/bpf/libbpf.c
+++ b/tools/lib/bpf/libbpf.c
@@ -1869,6 +1869,8 @@ static int bpf_object__init_user_maps(struct bpf_object *obj, bool strict)
 			continue;
 		if (sym.st_shndx != obj->efile.maps_shndx)
 			continue;
+		if (GELF_ST_TYPE(sym.st_info) == STT_SECTION)
+			continue;
 
 		map = bpf_object__add_map(obj);
 		if (IS_ERR(map))
@@ -1881,8 +1883,7 @@ static int bpf_object__init_user_maps(struct bpf_object *obj, bool strict)
 			return -LIBBPF_ERRNO__FORMAT;
 		}
 
-		if (GELF_ST_TYPE(sym.st_info) == STT_SECTION
-		    || GELF_ST_BIND(sym.st_info) == STB_LOCAL) {
+		if (GELF_ST_BIND(sym.st_info) == STB_LOCAL) {
 			pr_warn("map '%s' (legacy): static maps are not supported\n", map_name);
 			return -ENOTSUP;
 		}