diff --git a/tools/perf/util/machine.c b/tools/perf/util/machine.c
index a98538dc465a..0130279aac51 100644
--- a/tools/perf/util/machine.c
+++ b/tools/perf/util/machine.c
@@ -27,6 +27,7 @@ int machine__init(struct machine *machine, const char *root_dir, pid_t pid)
 	machine->pid = pid;
 
 	machine->symbol_filter = NULL;
+	machine->id_hdr_size = 0;
 
 	machine->root_dir = strdup(root_dir);
 	if (machine->root_dir == NULL)