diff --git a/tools/perf/util/session.c b/tools/perf/util/session.c
index b17f1c9bc965..bad5f87ae001 100644
--- a/tools/perf/util/session.c
+++ b/tools/perf/util/session.c
@@ -1928,12 +1928,14 @@ more:
 
 	size = event->header.size;
 
+	skip = -EINVAL;
+
 	if (size < sizeof(struct perf_event_header) ||
 	    (skip = rd->process(session, event, file_pos)) < 0) {
-		pr_err("%#" PRIx64 " [%#x]: failed to process type: %d\n",
+		pr_err("%#" PRIx64 " [%#x]: failed to process type: %d [%s]\n",
 		       file_offset + head, event->header.size,
-		       event->header.type);
-		err = -EINVAL;
+		       event->header.type, strerror(-skip));
+		err = skip;
 		goto out;
 	}