diff --git a/tools/perf/util/symbol.c b/tools/perf/util/symbol.c
index 48b588c6951a..60f11414bb5c 100644
--- a/tools/perf/util/symbol.c
+++ b/tools/perf/util/symbol.c
@@ -1911,6 +1911,8 @@ int setup_list(struct strlist **list, const char *list_str,
 		pr_err("problems parsing %s list\n", list_name);
 		return -1;
 	}
+
+	symbol_conf.has_filter = true;
 	return 0;
 }
 
diff --git a/tools/perf/util/symbol.h b/tools/perf/util/symbol.h
index bef47ead1d9b..b98ce51af142 100644
--- a/tools/perf/util/symbol.h
+++ b/tools/perf/util/symbol.h
@@ -105,7 +105,8 @@ struct symbol_conf {
 			demangle_kernel,
 			filter_relative,
 			show_hist_headers,
-			branch_callstack;
+			branch_callstack,
+			has_filter;
 	const char	*vmlinux_name,
 			*kallsyms_name,
 			*source_prefix,