diff --git a/tools/perf/builtin-diff.c b/tools/perf/builtin-diff.c
index 6e7920793729..a7e04202955c 100644
--- a/tools/perf/builtin-diff.c
+++ b/tools/perf/builtin-diff.c
@@ -32,6 +32,7 @@ struct perf_diff {
 	struct perf_time_interval	*ptime_range;
 	int				 range_size;
 	int				 range_num;
+	bool				 has_br_stack;
 };
 
 /* Diff command specific HPP columns. */
@@ -873,6 +874,31 @@ static int parse_time_str(struct data__file *d, char *abstime_ostr,
 	return ret;
 }
 
+static int check_file_brstack(void)
+{
+	struct data__file *d;
+	bool has_br_stack;
+	int i;
+
+	data__for_each_file(i, d) {
+		d->session = perf_session__new(&d->data, false, &pdiff.tool);
+		if (!d->session) {
+			pr_err("Failed to open %s\n", d->data.path);
+			return -1;
+		}
+
+		has_br_stack = perf_header__has_feat(&d->session->header,
+						     HEADER_BRANCH_STACK);
+		perf_session__delete(d->session);
+		if (!has_br_stack)
+			return 0;
+	}
+
+	/* Set only all files having branch stacks */
+	pdiff.has_br_stack = true;
+	return 0;
+}
+
 static int __cmd_diff(void)
 {
 	struct data__file *d;
@@ -1487,6 +1513,9 @@ int cmd_diff(int argc, const char **argv)
 	if (data_init(argc, argv) < 0)
 		return -1;
 
+	if (check_file_brstack() < 0)
+		return -1;
+
 	if (ui_init() < 0)
 		return -1;