diff --git a/tools/perf/util/event.c b/tools/perf/util/event.c
index 33616ea62a47..e33dd1a040cc 100644
--- a/tools/perf/util/event.c
+++ b/tools/perf/util/event.c
@@ -913,11 +913,13 @@ static int __perf_event__synthesize_kernel_mmap(struct perf_tool *tool,
 	int err;
 	union perf_event *event;
 
-	if (symbol_conf.kptr_restrict)
-		return -1;
 	if (map == NULL)
 		return -1;
 
+	kmap = map__kmap(map);
+	if (!kmap->ref_reloc_sym)
+		return -1;
+
 	/*
 	 * We should get this from /sys/kernel/sections/.text, but till that is
 	 * available use this, and after it is use this as a fallback for older
@@ -940,7 +942,6 @@ static int __perf_event__synthesize_kernel_mmap(struct perf_tool *tool,
 		event->header.misc = PERF_RECORD_MISC_GUEST_KERNEL;
 	}
 
-	kmap = map__kmap(map);
 	size = snprintf(event->mmap.filename, sizeof(event->mmap.filename),
 			"%s%s", machine->mmap_name, kmap->ref_reloc_sym->name) + 1;
 	size = PERF_ALIGN(size, sizeof(u64));