diff --git a/tools/perf/util/probe-finder.c b/tools/perf/util/probe-finder.c
index b44132ead95a..59b0115de30a 100644
--- a/tools/perf/util/probe-finder.c
+++ b/tools/perf/util/probe-finder.c
@@ -429,12 +429,20 @@ static void convert_variable_fields(Dwarf_Die *vr_die, const char *varname,
 		if (die_get_real_type(&type, &type) == NULL)
 			die("Failed to get a type information of %s.", varname);
 
+		/* Verify it is a data structure  */
+		if (dwarf_tag(&type) != DW_TAG_structure_type)
+			die("%s is not a data structure.", varname);
+
 		ref = xzalloc(sizeof(struct kprobe_trace_arg_ref));
 		if (*ref_ptr)
 			(*ref_ptr)->next = ref;
 		else
 			*ref_ptr = ref;
 	} else {
+		/* Verify it is a data structure  */
+		if (dwarf_tag(&type) != DW_TAG_structure_type)
+			die("%s is not a data structure.", varname);
+
 		if (field->ref)
 			die("Semantic error: %s must be referred by '.'",
 			    field->name);
@@ -442,10 +450,6 @@ static void convert_variable_fields(Dwarf_Die *vr_die, const char *varname,
 			die("Structure on a register is not supported yet.");
 	}
 
-	/* Verify it is a data structure  */
-	if (dwarf_tag(&type) != DW_TAG_structure_type)
-		die("%s is not a data structure.", varname);
-
 	if (die_find_member(&type, field->name, &member) == NULL)
 		die("%s(tyep:%s) has no member %s.", varname,
 		    dwarf_diename(&type), field->name);