diff --git a/tools/lib/bpf/libbpf.c b/tools/lib/bpf/libbpf.c
index 6445165a24f23..5adf2b68adb36 100644
--- a/tools/lib/bpf/libbpf.c
+++ b/tools/lib/bpf/libbpf.c
@@ -597,7 +597,7 @@ struct extern_desc {
 	int sym_idx;
 	int btf_id;
 	int sec_btf_id;
-	const char *name;
+	char *name;
 	char *essent_name;
 	bool is_set;
 	bool is_weak;
@@ -4259,7 +4259,7 @@ static int bpf_object__collect_externs(struct bpf_object *obj)
 			return ext->btf_id;
 		}
 		t = btf__type_by_id(obj->btf, ext->btf_id);
-		ext->name = btf__name_by_offset(obj->btf, t->name_off);
+		ext->name = strdup(btf__name_by_offset(obj->btf, t->name_off));
 		ext->sym_idx = i;
 		ext->is_weak = ELF64_ST_BIND(sym->st_info) == STB_WEAK;
 
@@ -9138,8 +9138,10 @@ void bpf_object__close(struct bpf_object *obj)
 	zfree(&obj->btf_custom_path);
 	zfree(&obj->kconfig);
 
-	for (i = 0; i < obj->nr_extern; i++)
+	for (i = 0; i < obj->nr_extern; i++) {
+		zfree(&obj->externs[i].name);
 		zfree(&obj->externs[i].essent_name);
+	}
 
 	zfree(&obj->externs);
 	obj->nr_extern = 0;