1 files changed, 4 insertions, 1 deletions

diff --git a/tools/perf/builtin-report.c b/tools/perf/builtin-report.c
index 242e09ff3658..f053a7463dcf 100644
--- a/tools/perf/builtin-report.c
+++ b/tools/perf/builtin-report.c
@@ -1120,7 +1120,10 @@ static int __cmd_report(void)
 
         input = open(input_name, O_RDONLY);
         if (input < 0) {
-                perror("failed to open file");
+                fprintf(stderr, " failed to open file: %s", input_name);
+                if (!strcmp(input_name, "perf.data"))
+                        fprintf(stderr, "  (try 'perf record' first)");
+                fprintf(stderr, "\n");
                 exit(-1);
         }