diff --git a/tools/perf/util/symbol.c b/tools/perf/util/symbol.c
index daf95549e7b9..e6432d85b43d 100644
--- a/tools/perf/util/symbol.c
+++ b/tools/perf/util/symbol.c
@@ -923,8 +923,10 @@ int dso__load_vmlinux_path(struct dso *dso, struct map *map,
 	filename = dso__build_id_filename(dso, NULL, 0);
 	if (filename != NULL) {
 		err = dso__load_vmlinux(dso, map, filename, filter);
-		if (err > 0)
+		if (err > 0) {
+			dso->lname_alloc = 1;
 			goto out;
+		}
 		free(filename);
 	}
 
@@ -932,6 +934,7 @@ int dso__load_vmlinux_path(struct dso *dso, struct map *map,
 		err = dso__load_vmlinux(dso, map, vmlinux_path[i], filter);
 		if (err > 0) {
 			dso__set_long_name(dso, strdup(vmlinux_path[i]));
+			dso->lname_alloc = 1;
 			break;
 		}
 	}
@@ -971,6 +974,7 @@ static int dso__load_kernel_sym(struct dso *dso, struct map *map,
 		if (err > 0) {
 			dso__set_long_name(dso,
 					   strdup(symbol_conf.vmlinux_name));
+			dso->lname_alloc = 1;
 			goto out_fixup;
 		}
 		return err;