diff --git a/kernel/trace/bpf_trace.c b/kernel/trace/bpf_trace.c
index 4715e9d0871d..3c65991be76c 100644
--- a/kernel/trace/bpf_trace.c
+++ b/kernel/trace/bpf_trace.c
@@ -1211,7 +1211,7 @@ static int bpf_btf_printf_prepare(struct btf_ptr *ptr, u32 btf_ptr_size,
 	*btf = bpf_get_btf_vmlinux();
 
 	if (IS_ERR_OR_NULL(*btf))
-		return PTR_ERR(*btf);
+		return IS_ERR(*btf) ? PTR_ERR(*btf) : -EINVAL;
 
 	if (ptr->type_id > 0)
 		*btf_id = ptr->type_id;