diff --git a/tools/lib/bpf/btf_dump.c b/tools/lib/bpf/btf_dump.c
index bd09ed1710f1..dc451e4de5ad 100644
--- a/tools/lib/bpf/btf_dump.c
+++ b/tools/lib/bpf/btf_dump.c
@@ -1030,7 +1030,7 @@ int btf_dump__emit_type_decl(struct btf_dump *d, __u32 id,
 	if (!OPTS_VALID(opts, btf_dump_emit_type_decl_opts))
 		return -EINVAL;
 
-	fname = OPTS_GET(opts, field_name, NULL);
+	fname = OPTS_GET(opts, field_name, "");
 	lvl = OPTS_GET(opts, indent_level, 0);
 	btf_dump_emit_type_decl(d, id, fname, lvl);
 	return 0;