diff --git a/tools/perf/util/machine.c b/tools/perf/util/machine.c
index 8b213482e564..baf855e596c2 100644
--- a/tools/perf/util/machine.c
+++ b/tools/perf/util/machine.c
@@ -340,9 +340,10 @@ struct machine *machines__findnew(struct machines *machines, pid_t pid)
 			if (!seen)
 				seen = strlist__new(NULL, NULL);
 
-			if (!strlist__has_entry(seen, path)) {
+			if (!seen || !strlist__has_entry(seen, path)) {
 				pr_err("Can't access file %s\n", path);
-				strlist__add(seen, path);
+				if (seen)
+					strlist__add(seen, path);
 			}
 			machine = NULL;
 			goto out;