diff --git a/tools/perf/util/symbol.c b/tools/perf/util/symbol.c
index 1270cf867e61..f1f609dcf9a1 100644
--- a/tools/perf/util/symbol.c
+++ b/tools/perf/util/symbol.c
@@ -1650,12 +1650,12 @@ static int dso__load_kernel_sym(struct dso *self, struct map *map,
 			     getenv("HOME"), sbuild_id) == -1)
 			return -1;
 
+		kallsyms_filename = kallsyms_allocated_filename;
+
 		if (access(kallsyms_filename, F_OK)) {
 			free(kallsyms_allocated_filename);
 			return -1;
 		}
-
-		kallsyms_filename = kallsyms_allocated_filename;
 	} else {
 		/*
 		 * Last resort, if we don't have a build-id and couldn't find