diff --git a/tools/perf/builtin-annotate.c b/tools/perf/builtin-annotate.c
index a5969fa..e7417fe 100644
--- a/tools/perf/builtin-annotate.c
+++ b/tools/perf/builtin-annotate.c
@@ -326,7 +326,10 @@
 		    "Show event group information together"),
 	OPT_END()
 	};
-	int ret;
+	int ret = hists__init();
+
+	if (ret < 0)
+		return ret;
 
 	argc = parse_options(argc, argv, options, annotate_usage, 0);