1 files changed, 4 insertions, 0 deletions

diff --git a/tools/perf/builtin-trace.c b/tools/perf/builtin-trace.c
index b160a9f61bf3..88eef71bce6d 100644
--- a/tools/perf/builtin-trace.c
+++ b/tools/perf/builtin-trace.c
@@ -184,6 +184,10 @@ static int __cmd_trace(void)
         header = perf_header__read(input);
         sample_type = perf_header__sample_type(header);
 
+        if (!(sample_type & PERF_SAMPLE_RAW))
+                die("No trace sample to read. Did you call perf record "
+                    "without -R?");
+
         if (load_kernel() < 0) {
                 perror("failed to load kernel symbols");
                 return EXIT_FAILURE;