diff --git a/tools/perf/util/dwarf-aux.c b/tools/perf/util/dwarf-aux.c
index 7defd77105d0..cc66c4049e09 100644
--- a/tools/perf/util/dwarf-aux.c
+++ b/tools/perf/util/dwarf-aux.c
@@ -747,14 +747,17 @@ struct __find_variable_param {
 static int __die_find_variable_cb(Dwarf_Die *die_mem, void *data)
 {
 	struct __find_variable_param *fvp = data;
+	Dwarf_Attribute attr;
 	int tag;
 
 	tag = dwarf_tag(die_mem);
 	if ((tag == DW_TAG_formal_parameter ||
 	     tag == DW_TAG_variable) &&
-	    die_compare_name(die_mem, fvp->name))
+	    die_compare_name(die_mem, fvp->name) &&
+	/* Does the DIE have location information or external instance? */
+	    (dwarf_attr(die_mem, DW_AT_external, &attr) ||
+	     dwarf_attr(die_mem, DW_AT_location, &attr)))
 		return DIE_FIND_CB_END;
-
 	if (dwarf_haspc(die_mem, fvp->addr))
 		return DIE_FIND_CB_CONTINUE;
 	else
diff --git a/tools/perf/util/probe-finder.c b/tools/perf/util/probe-finder.c
index 562762117639..9d8eb26f0533 100644
--- a/tools/perf/util/probe-finder.c
+++ b/tools/perf/util/probe-finder.c
@@ -511,12 +511,12 @@ static int convert_variable(Dwarf_Die *vr_die, struct probe_finder *pf)
 
 	ret = convert_variable_location(vr_die, pf->addr, pf->fb_ops,
 					&pf->sp_die, pf->tvar);
-	if (ret == -ENOENT)
+	if (ret == -ENOENT || ret == -EINVAL)
 		pr_err("Failed to find the location of %s at this address.\n"
 		       " Perhaps, it has been optimized out.\n", pf->pvar->var);
 	else if (ret == -ENOTSUP)
 		pr_err("Sorry, we don't support this variable location yet.\n");
-	else if (pf->pvar->field) {
+	else if (ret == 0 && pf->pvar->field) {
 		ret = convert_variable_fields(vr_die, pf->pvar->var,
 					      pf->pvar->field, &pf->tvar->ref,
 					      &die_mem);