diff --git a/tools/perf/util/symbol-elf.c b/tools/perf/util/symbol-elf.c
index ec5ec1c9d9b5..9fb5e9e9f161 100644
--- a/tools/perf/util/symbol-elf.c
+++ b/tools/perf/util/symbol-elf.c
@@ -736,7 +736,7 @@ int dso__load_sym(struct dso *dso, struct map *map,
 	if (symstrs == NULL)
 		goto out_elf_end;
 
-	sec_strndx = elf_getscn(elf, ehdr.e_shstrndx);
+	sec_strndx = elf_getscn(runtime_ss->elf, runtime_ss->ehdr.e_shstrndx);
 	if (sec_strndx == NULL)
 		goto out_elf_end;