diff --git a/tools/testing/selftests/bpf/veristat.c b/tools/testing/selftests/bpf/veristat.c
index 5c0ec3edce72..e70741c6b9b7 100644
--- a/tools/testing/selftests/bpf/veristat.c
+++ b/tools/testing/selftests/bpf/veristat.c
@@ -514,6 +514,40 @@ static bool is_bpf_obj_file(const char *path) {
 	return err == 0;
 }
 
+/* Exact filter match */
+static bool name_filter_matches(struct filter *f, const char *filename, const char *prog_name)
+{
+	if (f->any_glob)
+		return glob_matches(filename, f->any_glob) ||
+		       (prog_name && glob_matches(prog_name, f->any_glob));
+	if (f->file_glob && f->prog_glob)
+		return prog_name &&
+		       glob_matches(filename, f->file_glob) &&
+		       glob_matches(prog_name, f->prog_glob);
+	if (f->file_glob)
+		return glob_matches(filename, f->file_glob);
+	if (f->prog_glob)
+		return prog_name && glob_matches(prog_name, f->prog_glob);
+	return false;
+}
+
+/* Check if the filter does not outright reject the file name */
+static bool name_filter_may_match(struct filter *f, const char *filename)
+{
+	if (f->file_glob)
+		return glob_matches(filename, f->file_glob);
+	/*
+	 * If we don't know program name yet, any_glob filter
+	 * has to assume that current BPF object file might be
+	 * relevant; we'll check again later on after opening
+	 * BPF object file, at which point program name will
+	 * be known finally.
+	 */
+	if (f->any_glob || f->prog_glob)
+		return true;
+	return false;
+}
+
 static bool should_process_file_prog(const char *filename, const char *prog_name)
 {
 	struct filter *f;
@@ -521,16 +555,7 @@ static bool should_process_file_prog(const char *filename, const char *prog_name
 
 	for (i = 0; i < env.deny_filter_cnt; i++) {
 		f = &env.deny_filters[i];
-		if (f->kind != FILTER_NAME)
-			continue;
-
-		if (f->any_glob && glob_matches(filename, f->any_glob))
-			return false;
-		if (f->any_glob && prog_name && glob_matches(prog_name, f->any_glob))
-			return false;
-		if (f->file_glob && glob_matches(filename, f->file_glob))
-			return false;
-		if (f->prog_glob && prog_name && glob_matches(prog_name, f->prog_glob))
+		if (f->kind == FILTER_NAME && name_filter_matches(f, filename, prog_name))
 			return false;
 	}
 
@@ -540,24 +565,15 @@ static bool should_process_file_prog(const char *filename, const char *prog_name
 			continue;
 
 		allow_cnt++;
-		if (f->any_glob) {
-			if (glob_matches(filename, f->any_glob))
-				return true;
-			/* If we don't know program name yet, any_glob filter
-			 * has to assume that current BPF object file might be
-			 * relevant; we'll check again later on after opening
-			 * BPF object file, at which point program name will
-			 * be known finally.
-			 */
-			if (!prog_name || glob_matches(prog_name, f->any_glob))
-				return true;
-		} else {
-			if (f->file_glob && !glob_matches(filename, f->file_glob))
-				continue;
-			if (f->prog_glob && prog_name && !glob_matches(prog_name, f->prog_glob))
-				continue;
+		if (prog_name && name_filter_matches(f, filename, prog_name))
+			return true;
+		/*
+		 * If there is no prog_name and the file name is not blocked by
+		 * the filter, allow to open the file. Afterwards there would be
+		 * a second refining query with prog_name set.
+		 */
+		if (!prog_name && name_filter_may_match(f, filename))
 			return true;
-		}
 	}
 
 	/* if there are no file/prog name allow filters, allow all progs,
@@ -703,6 +719,12 @@ static int append_filter(struct filter **filters, int *cnt, const char *str)
 		}
 	}
 
+	if ((!f->any_glob && !f->file_glob && !f->prog_glob) ||
+	    (f->any_glob && strcmp(f->any_glob, "") == 0)) {
+		fprintf(stderr, "Invalid filter: '%s'\n", str);
+		return -EINVAL;
+	}
+
 	*cnt += 1;
 	return 0;
 }