diff --git a/tools/perf/builtin-trace.c b/tools/perf/builtin-trace.c
index 2bf21194c7b39..aaa465d7f0116 100644
--- a/tools/perf/builtin-trace.c
+++ b/tools/perf/builtin-trace.c
@@ -1782,11 +1782,11 @@ static int trace__read_syscall_info(struct trace *trace, int id)
 #endif
 	sc = trace->syscalls.table + id;
 	if (sc->nonexistent)
-		return 0;
+		return -EEXIST;
 
 	if (name == NULL) {
 		sc->nonexistent = true;
-		return 0;
+		return -EEXIST;
 	}
 
 	sc->name = name;