diff --git a/tools/perf/builtin-trace.c b/tools/perf/builtin-trace.c
index 20fac5083771..8a83bd835327 100644
--- a/tools/perf/builtin-trace.c
+++ b/tools/perf/builtin-trace.c
@@ -2241,13 +2241,13 @@ static int trace__replay(struct trace *trace)
 	/* add tid to output */
 	trace->multiple_threads = true;
 
-	if (symbol__init() < 0)
-		return -1;
-
 	session = perf_session__new(&file, false, &trace->tool);
 	if (session == NULL)
 		return -ENOMEM;
 
+	if (symbol__init() < 0)
+		goto out;
+
 	trace->host = &session->machines.host;
 
 	err = perf_session__set_tracepoints_handlers(session, handlers);