diff --git a/tools/perf/util/data.c b/tools/perf/util/data.c
index bcb494dc816a..48754083791d 100644
--- a/tools/perf/util/data.c
+++ b/tools/perf/util/data.c
@@ -44,10 +44,6 @@ int perf_data__create_dir(struct perf_data *data, int nr)
 	if (!files)
 		return -ENOMEM;
 
-	data->dir.version = PERF_DIR_VERSION;
-	data->dir.files   = files;
-	data->dir.nr      = nr;
-
 	for (i = 0; i < nr; i++) {
 		struct perf_data_file *file = &files[i];
 
@@ -62,6 +58,9 @@ int perf_data__create_dir(struct perf_data *data, int nr)
 		file->fd = ret;
 	}
 
+	data->dir.version = PERF_DIR_VERSION;
+	data->dir.files   = files;
+	data->dir.nr      = nr;
 	return 0;
 
 out_err: