diff --git a/tools/perf/util/symbol.c b/tools/perf/util/symbol.c
index 9d04dcd9181..3e2e5ea0f03 100644
--- a/tools/perf/util/symbol.c
+++ b/tools/perf/util/symbol.c
@@ -2817,8 +2817,11 @@ int machine__load_vmlinux_path(struct machine *machine, enum map_type type,
 
 struct map *dso__new_map(const char *name)
 {
+	struct map *map = NULL;
 	struct dso *dso = dso__new(name);
-	struct map *map = map__new2(0, dso, MAP__FUNCTION);
+
+	if (dso)
+		map = map__new2(0, dso, MAP__FUNCTION);
 
 	return map;
 }