diff --git a/tools/perf/util/bpf-event.c b/tools/perf/util/bpf-event.c
index 2298cd396c42..59f84aef91b4 100644
--- a/tools/perf/util/bpf-event.c
+++ b/tools/perf/util/bpf-event.c
@@ -288,7 +288,9 @@ static void format_btf_variable(struct btf *btf, char *buf, size_t buf_size,
 		.sz = sizeof(struct btf_dump_type_data_opts),
 		.skip_names = 1,
 		.compact = 1,
+#if LIBBPF_CURRENT_VERSION_GEQ(1, 7)
 		.emit_strings = 1,
+#endif
 	};
 	struct btf_dump *d;
 	size_t btf_size;