diff --git a/tools/perf/builtin-annotate.c b/tools/perf/builtin-annotate.c
index ea89077bb8e0..6c0a0412502e 100644
--- a/tools/perf/builtin-annotate.c
+++ b/tools/perf/builtin-annotate.c
@@ -566,6 +566,8 @@ int cmd_annotate(int argc, const char **argv)
 	if (ret < 0)
 		return ret;
 
+	annotation_config__init(&annotate.opts);
+
 	argc = parse_options(argc, argv, options, annotate_usage, 0);
 	if (argc) {
 		/*
@@ -605,8 +607,6 @@ int cmd_annotate(int argc, const char **argv)
 	if (ret < 0)
 		goto out_delete;
 
-	annotation_config__init(&annotate.opts);
-
 	symbol_conf.try_vmlinux_path = true;
 
 	ret = symbol__init(&annotate.session->header.env);