diff --git a/samples/bpf/bpf_load.c b/samples/bpf/bpf_load.c
index 89161c9ed466..904e775d1a44 100644
--- a/samples/bpf/bpf_load.c
+++ b/samples/bpf/bpf_load.c
@@ -107,6 +107,9 @@ static int load_and_attach(const char *event, struct bpf_insn *prog, int size)
 		return -1;
 	}
 
+	if (prog_cnt == MAX_PROGS)
+		return -1;
+
 	fd = bpf_load_program(prog_type, prog, insns_cnt, license, kern_version,
 			      bpf_log_buf, BPF_LOG_BUF_SIZE);
 	if (fd < 0) {