diff --git a/tools/perf/Makefile b/tools/perf/Makefile
index 8beff9944f44..90cfecf7913a 100644
--- a/tools/perf/Makefile
+++ b/tools/perf/Makefile
@@ -469,6 +469,7 @@ PYRF_OBJS += $(OUTPUT)util/xyarray.o
 ifdef NO_LIBELF
 	NO_DWARF := 1
 	NO_DEMANGLE := 1
+	NO_LIBUNWIND := 1
 else
 FLAGS_LIBELF=$(ALL_CFLAGS) $(ALL_LDFLAGS) $(EXTLIBS)
 ifneq ($(call try-cc,$(SOURCE_LIBELF),$(FLAGS_LIBELF)),y)
diff --git a/tools/perf/util/symbol-elf.c b/tools/perf/util/symbol-elf.c
index 5b37e13f08fb..db0cc92cf2ea 100644
--- a/tools/perf/util/symbol-elf.c
+++ b/tools/perf/util/symbol-elf.c
@@ -183,6 +183,9 @@ int dso__synthesize_plt_symbols(struct dso *dso, struct symsrc *ss, struct map *
 	Elf *elf;
 	int nr = 0, symidx, err = 0;
 
+	if (!ss->dynsym)
+		return 0;
+
 	elf = ss->elf;
 	ehdr = ss->ehdr;
 
diff --git a/tools/perf/util/symbol.c b/tools/perf/util/symbol.c
index 2293a4a5af96..753699a20bc8 100644
--- a/tools/perf/util/symbol.c
+++ b/tools/perf/util/symbol.c
@@ -1125,7 +1125,7 @@ int dso__load(struct dso *dso, struct map *map, symbol_filter_t filter)
 	else
 		ret = -1;
 
-	if (ret > 0 && runtime_ss->dynsym) {
+	if (ret > 0) {
 		int nr_plt;
 
 		nr_plt = dso__synthesize_plt_symbols(dso, runtime_ss, map, filter);