diff --git a/tools/lib/bpf/libbpf.c b/tools/lib/bpf/libbpf.c
index e3e56bebd014..18d95c6a89fe 100644
--- a/tools/lib/bpf/libbpf.c
+++ b/tools/lib/bpf/libbpf.c
@@ -7462,14 +7462,10 @@ static int bpf_object__resolve_externs(struct bpf_object *obj,
 	return 0;
 }
 
-int bpf_object__load_xattr(struct bpf_object_load_attr *attr)
+static int bpf_object_load(struct bpf_object *obj, int extra_log_level, const char *target_btf_path)
 {
-	struct bpf_object *obj;
 	int err, i;
 
-	if (!attr)
-		return libbpf_err(-EINVAL);
-	obj = attr->obj;
 	if (!obj)
 		return libbpf_err(-EINVAL);
 
@@ -7479,7 +7475,7 @@ int bpf_object__load_xattr(struct bpf_object_load_attr *attr)
 	}
 
 	if (obj->gen_loader)
-		bpf_gen__init(obj->gen_loader, attr->log_level);
+		bpf_gen__init(obj->gen_loader, extra_log_level);
 
 	err = bpf_object__probe_loading(obj);
 	err = err ? : bpf_object__load_vmlinux_btf(obj, false);
@@ -7488,8 +7484,8 @@ int bpf_object__load_xattr(struct bpf_object_load_attr *attr)
 	err = err ? : bpf_object__sanitize_maps(obj);
 	err = err ? : bpf_object__init_kern_struct_ops_maps(obj);
 	err = err ? : bpf_object__create_maps(obj);
-	err = err ? : bpf_object__relocate(obj, obj->btf_custom_path ? : attr->target_btf_path);
-	err = err ? : bpf_object__load_progs(obj, attr->log_level);
+	err = err ? : bpf_object__relocate(obj, obj->btf_custom_path ? : target_btf_path);
+	err = err ? : bpf_object__load_progs(obj, extra_log_level);
 	err = err ? : bpf_object_init_prog_arrays(obj);
 
 	if (obj->gen_loader) {
@@ -7534,13 +7530,14 @@ out:
 	return libbpf_err(err);
 }
 
+int bpf_object__load_xattr(struct bpf_object_load_attr *attr)
+{
+	return bpf_object_load(attr->obj, attr->log_level, attr->target_btf_path);
+}
+
 int bpf_object__load(struct bpf_object *obj)
 {
-	struct bpf_object_load_attr attr = {
-		.obj = obj,
-	};
-
-	return bpf_object__load_xattr(&attr);
+	return bpf_object_load(obj, 0, NULL);
 }
 
 static int make_parent_dir(const char *path)
diff --git a/tools/lib/bpf/libbpf.h b/tools/lib/bpf/libbpf.h
index dacde55bebff..a8b894dae633 100644
--- a/tools/lib/bpf/libbpf.h
+++ b/tools/lib/bpf/libbpf.h
@@ -214,6 +214,7 @@ struct bpf_object_load_attr {
 
 /* Load/unload object into/from kernel */
 LIBBPF_API int bpf_object__load(struct bpf_object *obj);
+LIBBPF_DEPRECATED_SINCE(0, 8, "use bpf_object__load() instead")
 LIBBPF_API int bpf_object__load_xattr(struct bpf_object_load_attr *attr);
 LIBBPF_DEPRECATED_SINCE(0, 6, "bpf_object__unload() is deprecated, use bpf_object__close() instead")
 LIBBPF_API int bpf_object__unload(struct bpf_object *obj);