diff --git a/tools/perf/util/symbol.c b/tools/perf/util/symbol.c
index 28106059bf12..b4fe0579bd6b 100644
--- a/tools/perf/util/symbol.c
+++ b/tools/perf/util/symbol.c
@@ -565,7 +565,7 @@ static int dso__load_sym(struct dso *self, int fd, const char *name,
 		goto out_elf_end;
 
 	secstrs = elf_getdata(sec_strndx, NULL);
-	if (symstrs == NULL)
+	if (secstrs == NULL)
 		goto out_elf_end;
 
 	nr_syms = shdr.sh_size / shdr.sh_entsize;