diff --git a/tools/perf/util/header.c b/tools/perf/util/header.c
index a9538bb1004d..487f663ed2de 100644
--- a/tools/perf/util/header.c
+++ b/tools/perf/util/header.c
@@ -1016,10 +1016,13 @@ static int write_bpf_prog_info(struct feat_fd *ff,
 	struct perf_env *env = &ff->ph->env;
 	struct rb_root *root;
 	struct rb_node *next;
-	int ret;
+	int ret = 0;
 
 	down_read(&env->bpf_progs.lock);
 
+	if (env->bpf_progs.infos_cnt == 0)
+		goto out;
+
 	ret = do_write(ff, &env->bpf_progs.infos_cnt,
 		       sizeof(env->bpf_progs.infos_cnt));
 	if (ret < 0)
@@ -1058,10 +1061,13 @@ static int write_bpf_btf(struct feat_fd *ff,
 	struct perf_env *env = &ff->ph->env;
 	struct rb_root *root;
 	struct rb_node *next;
-	int ret;
+	int ret = 0;
 
 	down_read(&env->bpf_progs.lock);
 
+	if (env->bpf_progs.btfs_cnt == 0)
+		goto out;
+
 	ret = do_write(ff, &env->bpf_progs.btfs_cnt,
 		       sizeof(env->bpf_progs.btfs_cnt));