diff --git a/tools/perf/builtin-top.c b/tools/perf/builtin-top.c
index c5b9c3f01d8514..ea02883c340595 100644
--- a/tools/perf/builtin-top.c
+++ b/tools/perf/builtin-top.c
@@ -1256,8 +1256,9 @@ int cmd_top(int argc, const char **argv, const char *prefix __maybe_unused)
 	symbol_conf.priv_size = sizeof(struct annotation);
 
 	symbol_conf.try_vmlinux_path = (symbol_conf.vmlinux_name == NULL);
-	if (symbol__init(NULL) < 0)
-		return -1;
+	status = symbol__init(NULL);
+	if (status < 0)
+		goto out_delete_evlist;
 
 	sort__setup_elide(stdout);