diff --git a/tools/perf/util/annotate.c b/tools/perf/util/annotate.c
index daea1fdf7385..4ef62bcdc80f 100644
--- a/tools/perf/util/annotate.c
+++ b/tools/perf/util/annotate.c
@@ -1871,7 +1871,7 @@ int symbol__annotate(struct symbol *sym, struct map *map,
 	int err;
 
 	if (!arch_name)
-		return -1;
+		return errno;
 
 	args.arch = arch = arch__find(arch_name);
 	if (arch == NULL)