diff --git a/tools/perf/util/symbol.c b/tools/perf/util/symbol.c
index fe86612afadc..8b63b678e127 100644
--- a/tools/perf/util/symbol.c
+++ b/tools/perf/util/symbol.c
@@ -2875,6 +2875,7 @@ int machines__create_guest_kernel_maps(struct rb_root *machines)
 	int i, items = 0;
 	char path[PATH_MAX];
 	pid_t pid;
+	char *endp;
 
 	if (symbol_conf.default_guest_vmlinux_name ||
 	    symbol_conf.default_guest_modules ||
@@ -2891,7 +2892,14 @@ int machines__create_guest_kernel_maps(struct rb_root *machines)
 				/* Filter out . and .. */
 				continue;
 			}
-			pid = atoi(namelist[i]->d_name);
+			pid = (pid_t)strtol(namelist[i]->d_name, &endp, 10);
+			if ((*endp != '\0') ||
+			    (endp == namelist[i]->d_name) ||
+			    (errno == ERANGE)) {
+				pr_debug("invalid directory (%s). Skipping.\n",
+					 namelist[i]->d_name);
+				continue;
+			}
 			sprintf(path, "%s/%s/proc/kallsyms",
 				symbol_conf.guestmount,
 				namelist[i]->d_name);