diff --git a/tools/perf/util/map.c b/tools/perf/util/map.c
index b39b12a1208d..728129ac653a 100644
--- a/tools/perf/util/map.c
+++ b/tools/perf/util/map.c
@@ -312,6 +312,9 @@ int map__load(struct map *map, symbol_filter_t filter)
 			pr_warning("%.*s was updated (is prelink enabled?). "
 				"Restart the long running apps that use it!\n",
 				   (int)real_len, name);
+		} else if (filter) {
+			pr_warning("no symbols passed the given filter.\n");
+			return -2;	/* Empty but maybe by the filter */
 		} else {
 			pr_warning("no symbols found in %s, maybe install "
 				   "a debug package?\n", name);
diff --git a/tools/perf/util/probe-event.c b/tools/perf/util/probe-event.c
index d4f8835c0a27..953dc1ab2ed7 100644
--- a/tools/perf/util/probe-event.c
+++ b/tools/perf/util/probe-event.c
@@ -3312,8 +3312,16 @@ int show_available_funcs(const char *target, struct strfilter *_filter,
 
 	/* Load symbols with given filter */
 	available_func_filter = _filter;
-	if (map__load(map, filter_available_functions)) {
-		pr_err("Failed to load symbols in %s\n", (target) ? : "kernel");
+	ret = map__load(map, filter_available_functions);
+	if (ret) {
+		if (ret == -2) {
+			char *str = strfilter__string(_filter);
+			pr_err("Failed to find symbols matched to \"%s\"\n",
+			       str);
+			free(str);
+		} else
+			pr_err("Failed to load symbols in %s\n",
+			       (target) ? : "kernel");
 		goto end;
 	}
 	if (!dso__sorted_by_name(map->dso, map->type))