diff --git a/tools/perf/util/machine.c b/tools/perf/util/machine.c
index 7c6874804660..e2a6facd1c4e 100644
--- a/tools/perf/util/machine.c
+++ b/tools/perf/util/machine.c
@@ -1217,7 +1217,7 @@ static int machine__get_running_kernel_start(struct machine *machine,
 
 	err = kallsyms__get_symbol_start(filename, "_edata", &addr);
 	if (err)
-		err = kallsyms__get_function_start(filename, "_etext", &addr);
+		err = kallsyms__get_symbol_start(filename, "_etext", &addr);
 	if (!err)
 		*end = addr;