diff --git a/tools/perf/util/symbol.c b/tools/perf/util/symbol.c
index d5528e1cc03a..02718e728d59 100644
--- a/tools/perf/util/symbol.c
+++ b/tools/perf/util/symbol.c
@@ -888,8 +888,11 @@ int dso__load_vmlinux(struct dso *dso, struct map *map,
 	char symfs_vmlinux[PATH_MAX];
 	enum dso_binary_type symtab_type;
 
-	snprintf(symfs_vmlinux, sizeof(symfs_vmlinux), "%s%s",
-		 symbol_conf.symfs, vmlinux);
+	if (vmlinux[0] == '/')
+		snprintf(symfs_vmlinux, sizeof(symfs_vmlinux), "%s", vmlinux);
+	else
+		snprintf(symfs_vmlinux, sizeof(symfs_vmlinux), "%s%s",
+			 symbol_conf.symfs, vmlinux);
 
 	if (dso->kernel == DSO_TYPE_GUEST_KERNEL)
 		symtab_type = DSO_BINARY_TYPE__GUEST_VMLINUX;