diff --git a/tools/bpf/bpftool/map.c b/tools/bpf/bpftool/map.c
index e0c650d91784..994a7e0d16fb 100644
--- a/tools/bpf/bpftool/map.c
+++ b/tools/bpf/bpftool/map.c
@@ -1151,6 +1151,9 @@ static int do_create(int argc, char **argv)
 				return -1;
 			}
 			NEXT_ARG();
+		} else {
+			p_err("unknown arg %s", *argv);
+			return -1;
 		}
 	}