diff --git a/tools/perf/util/python.c b/tools/perf/util/python.c
index 69436b3200a4..2dd1698e0932 100644
--- a/tools/perf/util/python.c
+++ b/tools/perf/util/python.c
@@ -694,14 +694,12 @@ static PyObject *pyrf_evlist__read_on_cpu(struct pyrf_evlist *pevlist,
 		err = perf_event__parse_sample(event, first->attr.sample_type,
 					       perf_sample_size(first->attr.sample_type),
 					       sample_id_all, &pevent->sample);
-		if (err) {
-			pr_err("Can't parse sample, err = %d\n", err);
-			goto end;
-		}
-
+		if (err)
+			return PyErr_Format(PyExc_OSError,
+					    "perf: can't parse sample, err=%d", err);
 		return pyevent;
 	}
-end:
+
 	Py_INCREF(Py_None);
 	return Py_None;
 }