diff --git a/tools/perf/builtin-report.c b/tools/perf/builtin-report.c
index 6767f10615ea..b13a7e2f839e 100644
--- a/tools/perf/builtin-report.c
+++ b/tools/perf/builtin-report.c
@@ -473,7 +473,8 @@ int cmd_report(int argc, const char **argv, const char *prefix __used)
 	setup_sorting(report_usage, options);
 
 	if (parent_pattern != default_parent_pattern) {
-		sort_dimension__add("parent");
+		if (sort_dimension__add("parent") < 0)
+			return -1;
 		sort_parent.elide = 1;
 	} else
 		symbol_conf.exclude_other = false;
diff --git a/tools/perf/util/sort.c b/tools/perf/util/sort.c
index 31329a1cd324..9d24d4b2c8fb 100644
--- a/tools/perf/util/sort.c
+++ b/tools/perf/util/sort.c
@@ -264,9 +264,8 @@ int sort_dimension__add(const char *tok)
 				char err[BUFSIZ];
 
 				regerror(ret, &parent_regex, err, sizeof(err));
-				fprintf(stderr, "Invalid regex: %s\n%s",
-					parent_pattern, err);
-				exit(-1);
+				pr_err("Invalid regex: %s\n%s", parent_pattern, err);
+				return -EINVAL;
 			}
 			sort__has_parent = 1;
 		}