diff --git a/tools/perf/builtin-top.c b/tools/perf/builtin-top.c
index 6822b44..7a8a77e 100644
--- a/tools/perf/builtin-top.c
+++ b/tools/perf/builtin-top.c
@@ -667,7 +667,7 @@
 	}
 
 	if (!found) {
-		fprintf(stderr, "Sorry, %s is not active.\n", sym_filter);
+		fprintf(stderr, "Sorry, %s is not active.\n", buf);
 		sleep(1);
 		return;
 	} else