diff --git a/src/python/bcc/__init__.py b/src/python/bcc/__init__.py
index 6b0e40141da0..d29e69381fbc 100644
--- a/src/python/bcc/__init__.py
+++ b/src/python/bcc/__init__.py
@@ -287,6 +287,8 @@ def __init__(self, src_file="", hdr_file="", text=None, cb=None, debug=0,
         if text:
             self.module = lib.bpf_module_create_c_from_string(text.encode("ascii"),
                     self.debug, cflags_array, len(cflags_array))
+            if not self.module:
+                raise Exception("Failed to compile BPF text:\n%s" % text)
         else:
             src_file = BPF._find_file(src_file)
             hdr_file = BPF._find_file(hdr_file)
@@ -296,9 +298,8 @@ def __init__(self, src_file="", hdr_file="", text=None, cb=None, debug=0,
             else:
                 self.module = lib.bpf_module_create_c(src_file.encode("ascii"),
                         self.debug, cflags_array, len(cflags_array))
-
-        if not self.module:
-            raise Exception("Failed to compile BPF module %s" % src_file)
+            if not self.module:
+                raise Exception("Failed to compile BPF module %s" % src_file)
 
         for usdt_context in usdt_contexts:
             usdt_context.attach_uprobes(self)
diff --git a/tools/biolatency.py b/tools/biolatency.py
index 46bebc4ad0e2..49ee7cf8d9da 100755
--- a/tools/biolatency.py
+++ b/tools/biolatency.py
@@ -40,6 +40,8 @@
     help="output interval, in seconds")
 parser.add_argument("count", nargs="?", default=99999999,
     help="number of outputs")
+parser.add_argument("--ebpf", action="store_true",
+    help=argparse.SUPPRESS)
 args = parser.parse_args()
 countdown = int(args.count)
 debug = 0
@@ -103,8 +105,10 @@
     bpf_text = bpf_text.replace('STORAGE', 'BPF_HISTOGRAM(dist);')
     bpf_text = bpf_text.replace('STORE',
         'dist.increment(bpf_log2l(delta));')
-if debug:
+if debug or args.ebpf:
     print(bpf_text)
+    if args.ebpf:
+        exit()
 
 # load BPF program
 b = BPF(text=bpf_text)
diff --git a/tools/biotop.py b/tools/biotop.py
index 8da9255bcdc0..63d6642c5987 100755
--- a/tools/biotop.py
+++ b/tools/biotop.py
@@ -40,6 +40,8 @@
     help="output interval, in seconds")
 parser.add_argument("count", nargs="?", default=99999999,
     help="number of outputs")
+parser.add_argument("--ebpf", action="store_true",
+    help=argparse.SUPPRESS)
 args = parser.parse_args()
 interval = int(args.interval)
 countdown = int(args.count)
@@ -55,7 +57,7 @@ def signal_ignore(signal, frame):
     print()
 
 # load BPF program
-b = BPF(text="""
+bpf_text = """
 #include <uapi/linux/ptrace.h>
 #include <linux/blkdev.h>
 
@@ -163,7 +165,13 @@ def signal_ignore(signal, frame):
 
     return 0;
 }
-""", debug=0)
+"""
+
+if args.ebpf:
+    print(bpf_text)
+    exit()
+
+b = BPF(text=bpf_text)
 b.attach_kprobe(event="blk_account_io_start", fn_name="trace_pid_start")
 b.attach_kprobe(event="blk_start_request", fn_name="trace_req_start")
 b.attach_kprobe(event="blk_mq_start_request", fn_name="trace_req_start")
diff --git a/tools/tcplife.py b/tools/tcplife.py
index df6845331f01..ac02a340e778 100755
--- a/tools/tcplife.py
+++ b/tools/tcplife.py
@@ -58,6 +58,8 @@
     help="comma-separated list of local ports to trace.")
 parser.add_argument("-D", "--remoteport",
     help="comma-separated list of remote ports to trace.")
+parser.add_argument("--ebpf", action="store_true",
+    help=argparse.SUPPRESS)
 args = parser.parse_args()
 debug = 0
 
@@ -375,8 +377,10 @@
 bpf_text = bpf_text.replace('FILTER_DPORT', '')
 bpf_text = bpf_text.replace('FILTER_LPORT', '')
 
-if debug:
+if debug or args.ebpf:
     print(bpf_text)
+    if args.ebpf:
+        exit()
 
 # event data
 TASK_COMM_LEN = 16      # linux/sched.h