diff --git a/tools/lib/bpf/libbpf.c b/tools/lib/bpf/libbpf.c
index f7a0517d8fa8..33ff61b151f3 100644
--- a/tools/lib/bpf/libbpf.c
+++ b/tools/lib/bpf/libbpf.c
@@ -1223,6 +1223,12 @@ static int bpf_map__init_kern_struct_ops(struct bpf_map *map)
 		const char *mname;
 
 		mname = btf__name_by_offset(btf, member->name_off);
+		if (btf_member_bitfield_size(type, i)) {
+			pr_warn("struct_ops init_kern %s: local bitfield %s is not supported\n",
+				map->name, mname);
+			return -ENOTSUP;
+		}
+
 		moff = member->offset / 8;
 		mdata = data + moff;
 		msize = btf__resolve_size(btf, member->type);
@@ -1259,8 +1265,7 @@ static int bpf_map__init_kern_struct_ops(struct bpf_map *map)
 		}
 
 		kern_member_idx = kern_member - btf_members(kern_type);
-		if (btf_member_bitfield_size(type, i) ||
-		    btf_member_bitfield_size(kern_type, kern_member_idx)) {
+		if (btf_member_bitfield_size(kern_type, kern_member_idx)) {
 			pr_warn("struct_ops init_kern %s: bitfield %s is not supported\n",
 				map->name, mname);
 			return -ENOTSUP;