diff --git a/tools/perf/util/env.c b/tools/perf/util/env.c
index 3baca06786fb..018ecf7b6da9 100644
--- a/tools/perf/util/env.c
+++ b/tools/perf/util/env.c
@@ -326,11 +326,11 @@ static const char *normalize_arch(char *arch)
 
 const char *perf_env__arch(struct perf_env *env)
 {
-	struct utsname uts;
 	char *arch_name;
 
 	if (!env || !env->arch) { /* Assume local operation */
-		if (uname(&uts) < 0)
+		static struct utsname uts = { .machine[0] = '\0', };
+		if (uts.machine[0] == '\0' && uname(&uts) < 0)
 			return NULL;
 		arch_name = uts.machine;
 	} else