diff --git a/tools/perf/builtin-kvm.c b/tools/perf/builtin-kvm.c
index 1e639d6..d8bf227 100644
--- a/tools/perf/builtin-kvm.c
+++ b/tools/perf/builtin-kvm.c
@@ -1058,7 +1058,7 @@
 	kvm->session = perf_session__new(&file, false, &kvm->tool);
 	if (!kvm->session) {
 		pr_err("Initializing perf session failed\n");
-		return -EINVAL;
+		return -1;
 	}
 
 	symbol__init(&kvm->session->header.env);
@@ -1361,7 +1361,7 @@
 	 */
 	kvm->session = perf_session__new(&file, false, &kvm->tool);
 	if (kvm->session == NULL) {
-		err = -ENOMEM;
+		err = -1;
 		goto out;
 	}
 	kvm->session->evlist = kvm->evlist;