diff --git a/tools/perf/util/annotate.c b/tools/perf/util/annotate.c
index 95109acf4808..1de1a7091c48 100644
--- a/tools/perf/util/annotate.c
+++ b/tools/perf/util/annotate.c
@@ -2997,7 +2997,7 @@ int symbol__annotate2(struct symbol *sym, struct map *map, struct evsel *evsel,
 
 out_free_offsets:
 	zfree(&notes->offsets);
-	return -1;
+	return err;
 }
 
 #define ANNOTATION__CFG(n) \