diff --git a/tools/perf/util/machine.c b/tools/perf/util/machine.c
index 5de2b86b9880..2e9eb6aa3ce2 100644
--- a/tools/perf/util/machine.c
+++ b/tools/perf/util/machine.c
@@ -2209,7 +2209,7 @@ int machine__get_kernel_start(struct machine *machine)
 	machine->kernel_start = 1ULL << 63;
 	if (map) {
 		err = map__load(map);
-		if (map->start)
+		if (!err)
 			machine->kernel_start = map->start;
 	}
 	return err;