diff --git a/tools/perf/util/annotate.c b/tools/perf/util/annotate.c
index e830eadfca2a..9b7b9176e713 100644
--- a/tools/perf/util/annotate.c
+++ b/tools/perf/util/annotate.c
@@ -2071,7 +2071,7 @@ 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)