diff --git a/tools/perf/util/header.c b/tools/perf/util/header.c
index b20e40c74468..1f407f7352a7 100644
--- a/tools/perf/util/header.c
+++ b/tools/perf/util/header.c
@@ -2237,6 +2237,7 @@ static int check_magic_endian(u64 magic, uint64_t hdr_sz,
 	 * - unique number to identify actual perf.data files
 	 * - encode endianness of file
 	 */
+	ph->version = PERF_HEADER_VERSION_2;
 
 	/* check magic number with one endianness */
 	if (magic == __perf_magic2)
@@ -2247,7 +2248,6 @@ static int check_magic_endian(u64 magic, uint64_t hdr_sz,
 		return -1;
 
 	ph->needs_swap = true;
-	ph->version = PERF_HEADER_VERSION_2;
 
 	return 0;
 }