diff --git a/tools/perf/builtin-annotate.c b/tools/perf/builtin-annotate.c
index dc870cf3..95a2ad3 100644
--- a/tools/perf/builtin-annotate.c
+++ b/tools/perf/builtin-annotate.c
@@ -309,7 +309,8 @@
 	if (symbol__init() < 0)
 		return -1;
 
-	setup_sorting(annotate_usage, options);
+	if (setup_sorting() < 0)
+		usage_with_options(annotate_usage, options);
 
 	if (argc) {
 		/*