diff --git a/tools/perf/util/symbol-elf.c b/tools/perf/util/symbol-elf.c
index f78ea3dc4c08..475d88d0a1c9 100644
--- a/tools/perf/util/symbol-elf.c
+++ b/tools/perf/util/symbol-elf.c
@@ -1271,8 +1271,6 @@ out_close:
 static int kcore__init(struct kcore *kcore, char *filename, int elfclass,
 		       bool temp)
 {
-	GElf_Ehdr *ehdr;
-
 	kcore->elfclass = elfclass;
 
 	if (temp)
@@ -1289,9 +1287,7 @@ static int kcore__init(struct kcore *kcore, char *filename, int elfclass,
 	if (!gelf_newehdr(kcore->elf, elfclass))
 		goto out_end;
 
-	ehdr = gelf_getehdr(kcore->elf, &kcore->ehdr);
-	if (!ehdr)
-		goto out_end;
+	memset(&kcore->ehdr, 0, sizeof(GElf_Ehdr));
 
 	return 0;
 
@@ -1348,23 +1344,18 @@ static int kcore__copy_hdr(struct kcore *from, struct kcore *to, size_t count)
 static int kcore__add_phdr(struct kcore *kcore, int idx, off_t offset,
 			   u64 addr, u64 len)
 {
-	GElf_Phdr gphdr;
-	GElf_Phdr *phdr;
+	GElf_Phdr phdr = {
+		.p_type		= PT_LOAD,
+		.p_flags	= PF_R | PF_W | PF_X,
+		.p_offset	= offset,
+		.p_vaddr	= addr,
+		.p_paddr	= 0,
+		.p_filesz	= len,
+		.p_memsz	= len,
+		.p_align	= page_size,
+	};
 
-	phdr = gelf_getphdr(kcore->elf, idx, &gphdr);
-	if (!phdr)
-		return -1;
-
-	phdr->p_type	= PT_LOAD;
-	phdr->p_flags	= PF_R | PF_W | PF_X;
-	phdr->p_offset	= offset;
-	phdr->p_vaddr	= addr;
-	phdr->p_paddr	= 0;
-	phdr->p_filesz	= len;
-	phdr->p_memsz	= len;
-	phdr->p_align	= page_size;
-
-	if (!gelf_update_phdr(kcore->elf, idx, phdr))
+	if (!gelf_update_phdr(kcore->elf, idx, &phdr))
 		return -1;
 
 	return 0;