diff --git a/tools/lib/bpf/btf.c b/tools/lib/bpf/btf.c
index 35b7fb85e1bb..ceb57b46a878 100644
--- a/tools/lib/bpf/btf.c
+++ b/tools/lib/bpf/btf.c
@@ -746,8 +746,12 @@ static int btf_validate_type(const struct btf *btf, const struct btf_type *t, __
 		break;
 	}
 	default:
-		pr_warn("btf: type [%u]: unrecognized kind %u\n", id, kind);
-		return -EINVAL;
+		/* Kind may be represented in kind layout information. */
+		if (btf_type_size_unknown(btf, t) < 0) {
+			pr_warn("btf: type [%u]: unrecognized kind %u\n", id, kind);
+			return -EINVAL;
+		}
+		break;
 	}
 	return 0;
 }