diff --git a/tools/perf/builtin-annotate.c b/tools/perf/builtin-annotate.c
index 795f865c1366..e44c54c79be4 100644
--- a/tools/perf/builtin-annotate.c
+++ b/tools/perf/builtin-annotate.c
@@ -463,7 +463,7 @@ static struct perf_event_ops event_ops = {
 static int __cmd_annotate(void)
 {
 	struct perf_session *session = perf_session__new(input_name, O_RDONLY,
-							 force);
+							 force, &symbol_conf);
 	int ret;
 
 	if (session == NULL)
diff --git a/tools/perf/builtin-buildid-list.c b/tools/perf/builtin-buildid-list.c
index 2629f76d95fe..7c36e4b2eccf 100644
--- a/tools/perf/builtin-buildid-list.c
+++ b/tools/perf/builtin-buildid-list.c
@@ -54,8 +54,8 @@ static int perf_file_section__process_buildids(struct perf_file_section *self,
 static int __cmd_buildid_list(void)
 {
 	int err = -1;
-	struct perf_session *session = perf_session__new(input_name, O_RDONLY, force);
-
+	struct perf_session *session = perf_session__new(input_name, O_RDONLY,
+							 force, NULL);
 	if (session == NULL)
 		return -1;
 
diff --git a/tools/perf/builtin-kmem.c b/tools/perf/builtin-kmem.c
index de194958fe6e..e79ecbc17181 100644
--- a/tools/perf/builtin-kmem.c
+++ b/tools/perf/builtin-kmem.c
@@ -364,19 +364,6 @@ static struct perf_event_ops event_ops = {
 	.sample_type_check	= sample_type_check,
 };
 
-static int read_events(void)
-{
-	int err;
-	struct perf_session *session = perf_session__new(input_name, O_RDONLY, 0);
-
-	if (session == NULL)
-		return -ENOMEM;
-
-	err = perf_session__process_events(session, &event_ops);
-	perf_session__delete(session);
-	return err;
-}
-
 static double fragmentation(unsigned long n_req, unsigned long n_alloc)
 {
 	if (n_alloc == 0)
@@ -385,7 +372,8 @@ static double fragmentation(unsigned long n_req, unsigned long n_alloc)
 		return 100.0 - (100.0 * n_req / n_alloc);
 }
 
-static void __print_result(struct rb_root *root, int n_lines, int is_caller)
+static void __print_result(struct rb_root *root, struct perf_session *session,
+			   int n_lines, int is_caller)
 {
 	struct rb_node *next;
 
@@ -406,7 +394,7 @@ static void __print_result(struct rb_root *root, int n_lines, int is_caller)
 		if (is_caller) {
 			addr = data->call_site;
 			if (!raw_ip)
-				sym = map_groups__find_function(kmaps, addr, NULL);
+				sym = map_groups__find_function(&session->kmaps, session, addr, NULL);
 		} else
 			addr = data->ptr;
 
@@ -447,12 +435,12 @@ static void print_summary(void)
 	printf("Cross CPU allocations: %lu/%lu\n", nr_cross_allocs, nr_allocs);
 }
 
-static void print_result(void)
+static void print_result(struct perf_session *session)
 {
 	if (caller_flag)
-		__print_result(&root_caller_sorted, caller_lines, 1);
+		__print_result(&root_caller_sorted, session, caller_lines, 1);
 	if (alloc_flag)
-		__print_result(&root_alloc_sorted, alloc_lines, 0);
+		__print_result(&root_alloc_sorted, session, alloc_lines, 0);
 	print_summary();
 }
 
@@ -520,12 +508,21 @@ static void sort_result(void)
 
 static int __cmd_kmem(void)
 {
-	setup_pager();
-	read_events();
-	sort_result();
-	print_result();
+	int err;
+	struct perf_session *session = perf_session__new(input_name, O_RDONLY,
+							 0, NULL);
+	if (session == NULL)
+		return -ENOMEM;
 
-	return 0;
+	setup_pager();
+	err = perf_session__process_events(session, &event_ops);
+	if (err != 0)
+		goto out_delete;
+	sort_result();
+	print_result(session);
+out_delete:
+	perf_session__delete(session);
+	return err;
 }
 
 static const char * const kmem_usage[] = {
diff --git a/tools/perf/builtin-record.c b/tools/perf/builtin-record.c
index b7e15a1b1ec2..a66a58d52818 100644
--- a/tools/perf/builtin-record.c
+++ b/tools/perf/builtin-record.c
@@ -442,7 +442,7 @@ static int __cmd_record(int argc, const char **argv)
 		exit(-1);
 	}
 
-	session = perf_session__new(output_name, O_WRONLY, force);
+	session = perf_session__new(output_name, O_WRONLY, force, NULL);
 	if (session == NULL) {
 		pr_err("Not enough memory for reading perf file header\n");
 		return -1;
diff --git a/tools/perf/builtin-report.c b/tools/perf/builtin-report.c
index efa8147b8991..3487224670a8 100644
--- a/tools/perf/builtin-report.c
+++ b/tools/perf/builtin-report.c
@@ -414,6 +414,7 @@ static int call__match(struct symbol *sym)
 }
 
 static struct symbol **resolve_callchain(struct thread *thread,
+					 struct perf_session *session,
 					 struct ip_callchain *chain,
 					 struct symbol **parent)
 {
@@ -447,8 +448,8 @@ static struct symbol **resolve_callchain(struct thread *thread,
 			continue;
 		}
 
-		thread__find_addr_location(thread, cpumode, MAP__FUNCTION,
-					   ip, &al, NULL);
+		thread__find_addr_location(thread, session, cpumode,
+					   MAP__FUNCTION, ip, &al, NULL);
 		if (al.sym != NULL) {
 			if (sort__has_parent && !*parent &&
 			    call__match(al.sym))
@@ -467,6 +468,7 @@ static struct symbol **resolve_callchain(struct thread *thread,
  */
 
 static int hist_entry__add(struct addr_location *al,
+			   struct perf_session *session,
 			   struct ip_callchain *chain, u64 count)
 {
 	struct symbol **syms = NULL, *parent = NULL;
@@ -474,7 +476,7 @@ static int hist_entry__add(struct addr_location *al,
 	struct hist_entry *he;
 
 	if ((sort__has_parent || callchain) && chain)
-		syms = resolve_callchain(al->thread, chain, &parent);
+		syms = resolve_callchain(al->thread, session, chain, &parent);
 
 	he = __hist_entry__add(al, parent, count, &hit);
 	if (he == NULL)
@@ -650,7 +652,7 @@ static int process_sample_event(event_t *event, struct perf_session *session)
 
 	cpumode = event->header.misc & PERF_RECORD_MISC_CPUMODE_MASK;
 
-	thread__find_addr_location(thread, cpumode,
+	thread__find_addr_location(thread, session, cpumode,
 				   MAP__FUNCTION, data.ip, &al, NULL);
 	/*
 	 * We have to do this here as we may have a dso with no symbol hit that
@@ -669,7 +671,7 @@ static int process_sample_event(event_t *event, struct perf_session *session)
 	if (sym_list && al.sym && !strlist__has_entry(sym_list, al.sym->name))
 		return 0;
 
-	if (hist_entry__add(&al, data.callchain, data.period)) {
+	if (hist_entry__add(&al, session, data.callchain, data.period)) {
 		pr_debug("problem incrementing symbol count, skipping event\n");
 		return -1;
 	}
@@ -763,7 +765,7 @@ static int __cmd_report(void)
 	int ret;
 	struct perf_session *session;
 
-	session = perf_session__new(input_name, O_RDONLY, force);
+	session = perf_session__new(input_name, O_RDONLY, force, &symbol_conf);
 	if (session == NULL)
 		return -ENOMEM;
 
diff --git a/tools/perf/builtin-sched.c b/tools/perf/builtin-sched.c
index 8d58d9e07a7b..bce05dff6dfe 100644
--- a/tools/perf/builtin-sched.c
+++ b/tools/perf/builtin-sched.c
@@ -1679,8 +1679,8 @@ static struct perf_event_ops event_ops = {
 static int read_events(void)
 {
 	int err;
-	struct perf_session *session = perf_session__new(input_name, O_RDONLY, 0);
-
+	struct perf_session *session = perf_session__new(input_name, O_RDONLY,
+							 0, NULL);
 	if (session == NULL)
 		return -ENOMEM;
 
diff --git a/tools/perf/builtin-timechart.c b/tools/perf/builtin-timechart.c
index b5211facddc6..27018531404b 100644
--- a/tools/perf/builtin-timechart.c
+++ b/tools/perf/builtin-timechart.c
@@ -1056,7 +1056,8 @@ static struct perf_event_ops event_ops = {
 
 static int __cmd_timechart(void)
 {
-	struct perf_session *session = perf_session__new(input_name, O_RDONLY, 0);
+	struct perf_session *session = perf_session__new(input_name, O_RDONLY,
+							 0, NULL);
 	int ret;
 
 	if (session == NULL)
diff --git a/tools/perf/builtin-top.c b/tools/perf/builtin-top.c
index 0f7a4da2924c..3b212bb2e4df 100644
--- a/tools/perf/builtin-top.c
+++ b/tools/perf/builtin-top.c
@@ -1162,8 +1162,8 @@ static int __cmd_top(void)
 	 * FIXME: perf_session__new should allow passing a O_MMAP, so that all this
 	 * mmap reading, etc is encapsulated in it. Use O_WRONLY for now.
 	 */
-	struct perf_session *session = perf_session__new(NULL, O_WRONLY, false);
-
+	struct perf_session *session = perf_session__new(NULL, O_WRONLY, false,
+							 &symbol_conf);
 	if (session == NULL)
 		return -ENOMEM;
 
diff --git a/tools/perf/builtin-trace.c b/tools/perf/builtin-trace.c
index d76532375054..9d89ae423ca5 100644
--- a/tools/perf/builtin-trace.c
+++ b/tools/perf/builtin-trace.c
@@ -318,7 +318,7 @@ int cmd_trace(int argc, const char **argv, const char *prefix __used)
 
 	setup_pager();
 
-	session = perf_session__new(input_name, O_RDONLY, 0);
+	session = perf_session__new(input_name, O_RDONLY, 0, NULL);
 	if (session == NULL)
 		return -ENOMEM;
 
diff --git a/tools/perf/util/event.c b/tools/perf/util/event.c
index 2d09c29b3a6c..222efb1fc3bd 100644
--- a/tools/perf/util/event.c
+++ b/tools/perf/util/event.c
@@ -256,7 +256,8 @@ int event__process_task(event_t *self, struct perf_session *session)
 	return 0;
 }
 
-void thread__find_addr_location(struct thread *self, u8 cpumode,
+void thread__find_addr_location(struct thread *self,
+				struct perf_session *session, u8 cpumode,
 				enum map_type type, u64 addr,
 				struct addr_location *al,
 				symbol_filter_t filter)
@@ -268,7 +269,7 @@ void thread__find_addr_location(struct thread *self, u8 cpumode,
 
 	if (cpumode & PERF_RECORD_MISC_KERNEL) {
 		al->level = 'k';
-		mg = kmaps;
+		mg = &session->kmaps;
 	} else if (cpumode & PERF_RECORD_MISC_USER)
 		al->level = '.';
 	else {
@@ -289,14 +290,14 @@ try_again:
 		 * "[vdso]" dso, but for now lets use the old trick of looking
 		 * in the whole kernel symbol list.
 		 */
-		if ((long long)al->addr < 0 && mg != kmaps) {
-			mg = kmaps;
+		if ((long long)al->addr < 0 && mg != &session->kmaps) {
+			mg = &session->kmaps;
 			goto try_again;
 		}
 		al->sym = NULL;
 	} else {
 		al->addr = al->map->map_ip(al->map, al->addr);
-		al->sym = map__find_symbol(al->map, al->addr, filter);
+		al->sym = map__find_symbol(al->map, session, al->addr, filter);
 	}
 }
 
@@ -311,7 +312,7 @@ int event__preprocess_sample(const event_t *self, struct perf_session *session,
 
 	dump_printf(" ... thread: %s:%d\n", thread->comm, thread->pid);
 
-	thread__find_addr_location(thread, cpumode, MAP__FUNCTION,
+	thread__find_addr_location(thread, session, cpumode, MAP__FUNCTION,
 				   self->ip.ip, al, filter);
 	dump_printf(" ...... dso: %s\n",
 		    al->map ? al->map->dso->long_name :
diff --git a/tools/perf/util/event.h b/tools/perf/util/event.h
index bb090257570e..035ecf3c25cc 100644
--- a/tools/perf/util/event.h
+++ b/tools/perf/util/event.h
@@ -149,15 +149,17 @@ void map__delete(struct map *self);
 struct map *map__clone(struct map *self);
 int map__overlap(struct map *l, struct map *r);
 size_t map__fprintf(struct map *self, FILE *fp);
-struct symbol *map__find_symbol(struct map *self, u64 addr,
-				symbol_filter_t filter);
+
+struct perf_session;
+
+struct symbol *map__find_symbol(struct map *self, struct perf_session *session,
+				u64 addr, symbol_filter_t filter);
 struct symbol *map__find_symbol_by_name(struct map *self, const char *name,
+					struct perf_session *session,
 					symbol_filter_t filter);
 void map__fixup_start(struct map *self);
 void map__fixup_end(struct map *self);
 
-struct perf_session;
-
 int event__synthesize_thread(pid_t pid,
 			     int (*process)(event_t *event,
 					    struct perf_session *session),
diff --git a/tools/perf/util/map.c b/tools/perf/util/map.c
index 76bdca640a9b..8b3dd467adb5 100644
--- a/tools/perf/util/map.c
+++ b/tools/perf/util/map.c
@@ -104,10 +104,11 @@ void map__fixup_end(struct map *self)
 
 #define DSO__DELETED "(deleted)"
 
-static int map__load(struct map *self, symbol_filter_t filter)
+static int map__load(struct map *self, struct perf_session *session,
+		     symbol_filter_t filter)
 {
 	const char *name = self->dso->long_name;
-	int nr = dso__load(self->dso, self, filter);
+	int nr = dso__load(self->dso, self, session, filter);
 
 	if (nr < 0) {
 		if (self->dso->has_build_id) {
@@ -143,19 +144,20 @@ static int map__load(struct map *self, symbol_filter_t filter)
 	return 0;
 }
 
-struct symbol *map__find_symbol(struct map *self, u64 addr,
-				symbol_filter_t filter)
+struct symbol *map__find_symbol(struct map *self, struct perf_session *session,
+				u64 addr, symbol_filter_t filter)
 {
-	if (!dso__loaded(self->dso, self->type) && map__load(self, filter) < 0)
+	if (!dso__loaded(self->dso, self->type) && map__load(self, session, filter) < 0)
 		return NULL;
 
 	return dso__find_symbol(self->dso, self->type, addr);
 }
 
 struct symbol *map__find_symbol_by_name(struct map *self, const char *name,
+					struct perf_session *session,
 					symbol_filter_t filter)
 {
-	if (!dso__loaded(self->dso, self->type) && map__load(self, filter) < 0)
+	if (!dso__loaded(self->dso, self->type) && map__load(self, session, filter) < 0)
 		return NULL;
 
 	if (!dso__sorted_by_name(self->dso, self->type))
diff --git a/tools/perf/util/session.c b/tools/perf/util/session.c
index 09836a537fc5..fe87a2f2e5a5 100644
--- a/tools/perf/util/session.c
+++ b/tools/perf/util/session.c
@@ -49,7 +49,7 @@ out_close:
 }
 
 struct perf_session *perf_session__new(const char *filename, int mode,
-				       bool force)
+				       bool force, struct symbol_conf *conf)
 {
 	size_t len = filename ? strlen(filename) + 1 : 0;
 	struct perf_session *self = zalloc(sizeof(*self) + len);
@@ -58,7 +58,7 @@ struct perf_session *perf_session__new(const char *filename, int mode,
 		goto out;
 
 	if (perf_header__init(&self->header) < 0)
-		goto out_delete;
+		goto out_free;
 
 	memcpy(self->filename, filename, len);
 	self->threads = RB_ROOT;
@@ -66,16 +66,21 @@ struct perf_session *perf_session__new(const char *filename, int mode,
 	self->mmap_window = 32;
 	self->cwd = NULL;
 	self->cwdlen = 0;
+	map_groups__init(&self->kmaps);
 
-	if (mode == O_RDONLY && perf_session__open(self, force) < 0) {
-		perf_session__delete(self);
-		self = NULL;
-	}
+	if (perf_session__create_kernel_maps(self, conf) < 0)
+		goto out_delete;
+
+	if (mode == O_RDONLY && perf_session__open(self, force) < 0)
+		goto out_delete;
 out:
 	return self;
-out_delete:
+out_free:
 	free(self);
 	return NULL;
+out_delete:
+	perf_session__delete(self);
+	return NULL;
 }
 
 void perf_session__delete(struct perf_session *self)
diff --git a/tools/perf/util/session.h b/tools/perf/util/session.h
index 1dbef7cdd489..20b2c9cc834b 100644
--- a/tools/perf/util/session.h
+++ b/tools/perf/util/session.h
@@ -3,19 +3,23 @@
 
 #include "event.h"
 #include "header.h"
+#include "thread.h"
 #include <linux/rbtree.h>
 
 struct thread;
+struct symbol_conf;
 
 struct perf_session {
 	struct perf_header	header;
 	unsigned long		size;
 	unsigned long		mmap_window;
+	struct map_groups	kmaps;
 	struct rb_root		threads;
 	struct thread		*last_match;
 	int			fd;
 	int			cwdlen;
 	char			*cwd;
+	bool			use_modules;
 	char filename[0];
 };
 
@@ -37,7 +41,7 @@ struct perf_event_ops {
 };
 
 struct perf_session *perf_session__new(const char *filename, int mode,
-				       bool force);
+				       bool force, struct symbol_conf *conf);
 void perf_session__delete(struct perf_session *self);
 
 int perf_session__process_events(struct perf_session *self,
diff --git a/tools/perf/util/symbol.c b/tools/perf/util/symbol.c
index d3d9fed74f1d..185b9eec192b 100644
--- a/tools/perf/util/symbol.c
+++ b/tools/perf/util/symbol.c
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 #include "util.h"
 #include "../perf.h"
+#include "session.h"
 #include "string.h"
 #include "symbol.h"
 #include "thread.h"
@@ -31,7 +32,7 @@ enum dso_origin {
 static void dsos__add(struct list_head *head, struct dso *dso);
 static struct map *map__new2(u64 start, struct dso *dso, enum map_type type);
 static int dso__load_kernel_sym(struct dso *self, struct map *map,
-				struct map_groups *mg, symbol_filter_t filter);
+				struct perf_session *session, symbol_filter_t filter);
 unsigned int symbol__priv_size;
 static int vmlinux_path__nr_entries;
 static char **vmlinux_path;
@@ -41,9 +42,6 @@ static struct symbol_conf symbol_conf__defaults = {
 	.try_vmlinux_path = true,
 };
 
-static struct map_groups kmaps_mem;
-struct map_groups *kmaps = &kmaps_mem;
-
 bool dso__loaded(const struct dso *self, enum map_type type)
 {
 	return self->loaded & (1 << type);
@@ -456,7 +454,7 @@ out_failure:
  * the original ELF section names vmlinux have.
  */
 static int dso__split_kallsyms(struct dso *self, struct map *map,
-			       struct map_groups *mg, symbol_filter_t filter)
+			       struct perf_session *session, symbol_filter_t filter)
 {
 	struct map *curr_map = map;
 	struct symbol *pos;
@@ -473,13 +471,13 @@ static int dso__split_kallsyms(struct dso *self, struct map *map,
 
 		module = strchr(pos->name, '\t');
 		if (module) {
-			if (!mg->use_modules)
+			if (!session->use_modules)
 				goto discard_symbol;
 
 			*module++ = '\0';
 
 			if (strcmp(self->name, module)) {
-				curr_map = map_groups__find_by_name(mg, map->type, module);
+				curr_map = map_groups__find_by_name(&session->kmaps, map->type, module);
 				if (curr_map == NULL) {
 					pr_debug("/proc/{kallsyms,modules} "
 					         "inconsistency!\n");
@@ -510,7 +508,7 @@ static int dso__split_kallsyms(struct dso *self, struct map *map,
 			}
 
 			curr_map->map_ip = curr_map->unmap_ip = identity__map_ip;
-			map_groups__insert(mg, curr_map);
+			map_groups__insert(&session->kmaps, curr_map);
 			++kernel_range;
 		}
 
@@ -531,7 +529,7 @@ discard_symbol:		rb_erase(&pos->rb_node, root);
 
 
 static int dso__load_kallsyms(struct dso *self, struct map *map,
-			      struct map_groups *mg, symbol_filter_t filter)
+			      struct perf_session *session, symbol_filter_t filter)
 {
 	if (dso__load_all_kallsyms(self, map) < 0)
 		return -1;
@@ -539,14 +537,7 @@ static int dso__load_kallsyms(struct dso *self, struct map *map,
 	symbols__fixup_end(&self->symbols[map->type]);
 	self->origin = DSO__ORIG_KERNEL;
 
-	return dso__split_kallsyms(self, map, mg, filter);
-}
-
-size_t kernel_maps__fprintf(FILE *fp)
-{
-	size_t printed = fprintf(fp, "Kernel maps:\n");
-	printed += map_groups__fprintf_maps(kmaps, fp);
-	return printed + fprintf(fp, "END kernel maps\n");
+	return dso__split_kallsyms(self, map, session, filter);
 }
 
 static int dso__load_perf_map(struct dso *self, struct map *map,
@@ -873,7 +864,7 @@ static bool elf_sec__is_a(GElf_Shdr *self, Elf_Data *secstrs, enum map_type type
 }
 
 static int dso__load_sym(struct dso *self, struct map *map,
-			 struct map_groups *mg, const char *name, int fd,
+			 struct perf_session *session, const char *name, int fd,
 			 symbol_filter_t filter, int kernel, int kmodule)
 {
 	struct map *curr_map = map;
@@ -977,7 +968,7 @@ static int dso__load_sym(struct dso *self, struct map *map,
 			snprintf(dso_name, sizeof(dso_name),
 				 "%s%s", self->short_name, section_name);
 
-			curr_map = map_groups__find_by_name(mg, map->type, dso_name);
+			curr_map = map_groups__find_by_name(&session->kmaps, map->type, dso_name);
 			if (curr_map == NULL) {
 				u64 start = sym.st_value;
 
@@ -996,7 +987,7 @@ static int dso__load_sym(struct dso *self, struct map *map,
 				curr_map->map_ip = identity__map_ip;
 				curr_map->unmap_ip = identity__map_ip;
 				curr_dso->origin = DSO__ORIG_KERNEL;
-				map_groups__insert(kmaps, curr_map);
+				map_groups__insert(&session->kmaps, curr_map);
 				dsos__add(&dsos__kernel, curr_dso);
 			} else
 				curr_dso = curr_map->dso;
@@ -1211,7 +1202,8 @@ char dso__symtab_origin(const struct dso *self)
 	return origin[self->origin];
 }
 
-int dso__load(struct dso *self, struct map *map, symbol_filter_t filter)
+int dso__load(struct dso *self, struct map *map, struct perf_session *session,
+	      symbol_filter_t filter)
 {
 	int size = PATH_MAX;
 	char *name;
@@ -1222,7 +1214,7 @@ int dso__load(struct dso *self, struct map *map, symbol_filter_t filter)
 	dso__set_loaded(self, map->type);
 
 	if (self->kernel)
-		return dso__load_kernel_sym(self, map, kmaps, filter);
+		return dso__load_kernel_sym(self, map, session, filter);
 
 	name = malloc(size);
 	if (!name)
@@ -1323,7 +1315,7 @@ struct map *map_groups__find_by_name(struct map_groups *self,
 	return NULL;
 }
 
-static int dsos__set_modules_path_dir(char *dirname)
+static int perf_session__set_modules_path_dir(struct perf_session *self, char *dirname)
 {
 	struct dirent *dent;
 	DIR *dir = opendir(dirname);
@@ -1343,7 +1335,7 @@ static int dsos__set_modules_path_dir(char *dirname)
 
 			snprintf(path, sizeof(path), "%s/%s",
 				 dirname, dent->d_name);
-			if (dsos__set_modules_path_dir(path) < 0)
+			if (perf_session__set_modules_path_dir(self, path) < 0)
 				goto failure;
 		} else {
 			char *dot = strrchr(dent->d_name, '.'),
@@ -1357,7 +1349,7 @@ static int dsos__set_modules_path_dir(char *dirname)
 				 (int)(dot - dent->d_name), dent->d_name);
 
 			strxfrchar(dso_name, '-', '_');
-			map = map_groups__find_by_name(kmaps, MAP__FUNCTION, dso_name);
+			map = map_groups__find_by_name(&self->kmaps, MAP__FUNCTION, dso_name);
 			if (map == NULL)
 				continue;
 
@@ -1377,7 +1369,7 @@ failure:
 	return -1;
 }
 
-static int dsos__set_modules_path(void)
+static int perf_session__set_modules_path(struct perf_session *self)
 {
 	struct utsname uts;
 	char modules_path[PATH_MAX];
@@ -1388,7 +1380,7 @@ static int dsos__set_modules_path(void)
 	snprintf(modules_path, sizeof(modules_path), "/lib/modules/%s/kernel",
 		 uts.release);
 
-	return dsos__set_modules_path_dir(modules_path);
+	return perf_session__set_modules_path_dir(self, modules_path);
 }
 
 /*
@@ -1410,7 +1402,7 @@ static struct map *map__new2(u64 start, struct dso *dso, enum map_type type)
 	return self;
 }
 
-static int map_groups__create_module_maps(struct map_groups *self)
+static int perf_session__create_module_maps(struct perf_session *self)
 {
 	char *line = NULL;
 	size_t n;
@@ -1467,14 +1459,14 @@ static int map_groups__create_module_maps(struct map_groups *self)
 			dso->has_build_id = true;
 
 		dso->origin = DSO__ORIG_KMODULE;
-		map_groups__insert(self, map);
+		map_groups__insert(&self->kmaps, map);
 		dsos__add(&dsos__kernel, dso);
 	}
 
 	free(line);
 	fclose(file);
 
-	return dsos__set_modules_path();
+	return perf_session__set_modules_path(self);
 
 out_delete_line:
 	free(line);
@@ -1483,7 +1475,7 @@ out_failure:
 }
 
 static int dso__load_vmlinux(struct dso *self, struct map *map,
-			     struct map_groups *mg,
+			     struct perf_session *session,
 			     const char *vmlinux, symbol_filter_t filter)
 {
 	int err = -1, fd;
@@ -1517,14 +1509,14 @@ static int dso__load_vmlinux(struct dso *self, struct map *map,
 		return -1;
 
 	dso__set_loaded(self, map->type);
-	err = dso__load_sym(self, map, mg, self->long_name, fd, filter, 1, 0);
+	err = dso__load_sym(self, map, session, self->long_name, fd, filter, 1, 0);
 	close(fd);
 
 	return err;
 }
 
 static int dso__load_kernel_sym(struct dso *self, struct map *map,
-				struct map_groups *mg, symbol_filter_t filter)
+				struct perf_session *session, symbol_filter_t filter)
 {
 	int err;
 	bool is_kallsyms;
@@ -1534,7 +1526,7 @@ static int dso__load_kernel_sym(struct dso *self, struct map *map,
 		pr_debug("Looking at the vmlinux_path (%d entries long)\n",
 			 vmlinux_path__nr_entries);
 		for (i = 0; i < vmlinux_path__nr_entries; ++i) {
-			err = dso__load_vmlinux(self, map, mg,
+			err = dso__load_vmlinux(self, map, session,
 						vmlinux_path[i], filter);
 			if (err > 0) {
 				pr_debug("Using %s for symbols\n",
@@ -1550,12 +1542,12 @@ static int dso__load_kernel_sym(struct dso *self, struct map *map,
 	if (is_kallsyms)
 		goto do_kallsyms;
 
-	err = dso__load_vmlinux(self, map, mg, self->long_name, filter);
+	err = dso__load_vmlinux(self, map, session, self->long_name, filter);
 	if (err <= 0) {
 		pr_info("The file %s cannot be used, "
 			"trying to use /proc/kallsyms...", self->long_name);
 do_kallsyms:
-		err = dso__load_kallsyms(self, map, mg, filter);
+		err = dso__load_kallsyms(self, map, session, filter);
 		if (err > 0 && !is_kallsyms)
                         dso__set_long_name(self, strdup("[kernel.kallsyms]"));
 	}
@@ -1757,23 +1749,30 @@ int symbol__init(struct symbol_conf *conf)
 	if (pconf->sort_by_name)
 		symbol__priv_size += (sizeof(struct symbol_name_rb_node) -
 				      sizeof(struct symbol));
-	map_groups__init(kmaps);
 
 	if (pconf->try_vmlinux_path && vmlinux_path__init() < 0)
 		return -1;
 
-	if (map_groups__create_kernel_maps(kmaps, pconf->vmlinux_name) < 0) {
-		vmlinux_path__exit();
-		return -1;
-	}
+	return 0;
+}
 
-	kmaps->use_modules = pconf->use_modules;
-	if (pconf->use_modules && map_groups__create_module_maps(kmaps) < 0)
-		pr_debug("Failed to load list of modules in use, "
-			 "continuing...\n");
+int perf_session__create_kernel_maps(struct perf_session *self,
+				     struct symbol_conf *conf)
+{
+	const struct symbol_conf *pconf = conf ?: &symbol_conf__defaults;
+
+	if (map_groups__create_kernel_maps(&self->kmaps,
+					   pconf->vmlinux_name) < 0)
+		return -1;
+
+	self->use_modules = pconf->use_modules;
+
+	if (pconf->use_modules && perf_session__create_module_maps(self) < 0)
+		pr_debug("Failed to load list of modules for session %s, "
+			 "continuing...\n", self->filename);
 	/*
 	 * Now that we have all the maps created, just set the ->end of them:
 	 */
-	map_groups__fixup_end(kmaps);
+	map_groups__fixup_end(&self->kmaps);
 	return 0;
 }
diff --git a/tools/perf/util/symbol.h b/tools/perf/util/symbol.h
index cf99f88adf39..941ef331790e 100644
--- a/tools/perf/util/symbol.h
+++ b/tools/perf/util/symbol.h
@@ -98,8 +98,11 @@ bool dso__sorted_by_name(const struct dso *self, enum map_type type);
 
 void dso__sort_by_name(struct dso *self, enum map_type type);
 
+struct perf_session;
+
 struct dso *dsos__findnew(const char *name);
-int dso__load(struct dso *self, struct map *map, symbol_filter_t filter);
+int dso__load(struct dso *self, struct map *map, struct perf_session *session,
+	      symbol_filter_t filter);
 void dsos__fprintf(FILE *fp);
 size_t dsos__fprintf_buildid(FILE *fp);
 
@@ -116,12 +119,10 @@ int sysfs__read_build_id(const char *filename, void *bf, size_t size);
 bool dsos__read_build_ids(void);
 int build_id__sprintf(u8 *self, int len, char *bf);
 
-size_t kernel_maps__fprintf(FILE *fp);
-
 int symbol__init(struct symbol_conf *conf);
+int perf_session__create_kernel_maps(struct perf_session *self,
+				     struct symbol_conf *conf);
 
-struct map_groups;
-struct map_groups *kmaps;
 extern struct list_head dsos__user, dsos__kernel;
 extern struct dso *vdso;
 #endif /* __PERF_SYMBOL */
diff --git a/tools/perf/util/thread.c b/tools/perf/util/thread.c
index 634b7f7140d5..4a08dcf50b68 100644
--- a/tools/perf/util/thread.c
+++ b/tools/perf/util/thread.c
@@ -282,13 +282,14 @@ size_t perf_session__fprintf(struct perf_session *self, FILE *fp)
 }
 
 struct symbol *map_groups__find_symbol(struct map_groups *self,
+				       struct perf_session *session,
 				       enum map_type type, u64 addr,
 				       symbol_filter_t filter)
 {
 	struct map *map = map_groups__find(self, type, addr);
 
 	if (map != NULL)
-		return map__find_symbol(map, map->map_ip(map, addr), filter);
+		return map__find_symbol(map, session, map->map_ip(map, addr), filter);
 
 	return NULL;
 }
diff --git a/tools/perf/util/thread.h b/tools/perf/util/thread.h
index e93abf2d9cb6..c206f72c8881 100644
--- a/tools/perf/util/thread.h
+++ b/tools/perf/util/thread.h
@@ -8,7 +8,6 @@
 struct map_groups {
 	struct rb_root		maps[MAP__NR_TYPES];
 	struct list_head	removed_maps[MAP__NR_TYPES];
-	bool			use_modules;
 };
 
 struct thread {
@@ -49,19 +48,21 @@ static inline struct map *thread__find_map(struct thread *self,
 	return self ? map_groups__find(&self->mg, type, addr) : NULL;
 }
 
-void thread__find_addr_location(struct thread *self, u8 cpumode,
+void thread__find_addr_location(struct thread *self,
+				struct perf_session *session, u8 cpumode,
 				enum map_type type, u64 addr,
 				struct addr_location *al,
 				symbol_filter_t filter);
 struct symbol *map_groups__find_symbol(struct map_groups *self,
+				       struct perf_session *session,
 				       enum map_type type, u64 addr,
 				       symbol_filter_t filter);
 
 static inline struct symbol *
-map_groups__find_function(struct map_groups *self, u64 addr,
-			  symbol_filter_t filter)
+map_groups__find_function(struct map_groups *self, struct perf_session *session,
+			  u64 addr, symbol_filter_t filter)
 {
-	return map_groups__find_symbol(self, MAP__FUNCTION, addr, filter);
+	return map_groups__find_symbol(self, session, MAP__FUNCTION, addr, filter);
 }
 
 struct map *map_groups__find_by_name(struct map_groups *self,