diff --git a/kernel/bpf/verifier.c b/kernel/bpf/verifier.c
index 31243eb92f54..21043caa6be2 100644
--- a/kernel/bpf/verifier.c
+++ b/kernel/bpf/verifier.c
@@ -3126,7 +3126,7 @@ static int check_ptr_to_btf_access(struct bpf_verifier_env *env,
 	if (ret < 0)
 		return ret;
 
-	if (atype == BPF_READ) {
+	if (atype == BPF_READ && value_regno >= 0) {
 		if (ret == SCALAR_VALUE) {
 			mark_reg_unknown(env, regs, value_regno);
 			return 0;