diff --git a/tools/perf/builtin-record.c b/tools/perf/builtin-record.c
index bb5b4d2fc32b1..cfb9a69a42ddd 100644
--- a/tools/perf/builtin-record.c
+++ b/tools/perf/builtin-record.c
@@ -1446,6 +1446,44 @@ static int record__process_signal_event(union perf_event *event __maybe_unused,
 	return 0;
 }
 
+static int record__setup_sb_evlist(struct record *rec)
+{
+	struct record_opts *opts = &rec->opts;
+
+	if (rec->sb_evlist != NULL) {
+		/*
+		 * We get here if --switch-output-event populated the
+		 * sb_evlist, so associate a callback that will send a SIGUSR2
+		 * to the main thread.
+		 */
+		evlist__set_cb(rec->sb_evlist, record__process_signal_event, rec);
+		rec->thread_id = pthread_self();
+	}
+
+	if (!opts->no_bpf_event) {
+		if (rec->sb_evlist == NULL) {
+			rec->sb_evlist = evlist__new();
+
+			if (rec->sb_evlist == NULL) {
+				pr_err("Couldn't create side band evlist.\n.");
+				return -1;
+			}
+		}
+
+		if (evlist__add_bpf_sb_event(rec->sb_evlist, &rec->session->header.env)) {
+			pr_err("Couldn't ask for PERF_RECORD_BPF_EVENT side band events.\n.");
+			return -1;
+		}
+	}
+
+	if (perf_evlist__start_sb_thread(rec->sb_evlist, &rec->opts.target)) {
+		pr_debug("Couldn't start the BPF side band thread:\nBPF programs starting from now on won't be annotatable\n");
+		opts->no_bpf_event = true;
+	}
+
+	return 0;
+}
+
 static int __cmd_record(struct record *rec, int argc, const char **argv)
 {
 	int err;
@@ -1590,36 +1628,9 @@ static int __cmd_record(struct record *rec, int argc, const char **argv)
 		goto out_child;
 	}
 
-	if (rec->sb_evlist != NULL) {
-		/*
-		 * We get here if --switch-output-event populated the
-		 * sb_evlist, so associate a callback that will send a SIGUSR2
-		 * to the main thread.
-		 */
-		evlist__set_cb(rec->sb_evlist, record__process_signal_event, rec);
-		rec->thread_id = pthread_self();
-	}
-
-	if (!opts->no_bpf_event) {
-		if (rec->sb_evlist == NULL) {
-			rec->sb_evlist = evlist__new();
-
-			if (rec->sb_evlist == NULL) {
-				pr_err("Couldn't create side band evlist.\n.");
-				goto out_child;
-			}
-		}
-
-		if (evlist__add_bpf_sb_event(rec->sb_evlist, &session->header.env)) {
-			pr_err("Couldn't ask for PERF_RECORD_BPF_EVENT side band events.\n.");
-			goto out_child;
-		}
-	}
-
-	if (perf_evlist__start_sb_thread(rec->sb_evlist, &rec->opts.target)) {
-		pr_debug("Couldn't start the BPF side band thread:\nBPF programs starting from now on won't be annotatable\n");
-		opts->no_bpf_event = true;
-	}
+	err = record__setup_sb_evlist(rec);
+	if (err)
+		goto out_child;
 
 	err = record__synthesize(rec, false);
 	if (err < 0)