diff --git a/tools/bpf/bpftool/prog.c b/tools/bpf/bpftool/prog.c
index 12b694fe0404..959aa53ab678 100644
--- a/tools/bpf/bpftool/prog.c
+++ b/tools/bpf/bpftool/prog.c
@@ -695,12 +695,18 @@ static int do_load(int argc, char **argv)
 	}
 
 	if (do_pin_fd(prog_fd, argv[1]))
-		return -1;
+		goto err_close_obj;
 
 	if (json_output)
 		jsonw_null(json_wtr);
 
+	bpf_object__close(obj);
+
 	return 0;
+
+err_close_obj:
+	bpf_object__close(obj);
+	return -1;
 }
 
 static int do_help(int argc, char **argv)