diff --git a/tools/perf/builtin-diff.c b/tools/perf/builtin-diff.c
index 4af0b58..d207a97 100644
--- a/tools/perf/builtin-diff.c
+++ b/tools/perf/builtin-diff.c
@@ -605,7 +605,9 @@
 
 	ui_init();
 
-	setup_sorting(diff_usage, options);
+	if (setup_sorting() < 0)
+		usage_with_options(diff_usage, options);
+
 	setup_pager();
 
 	sort_entry__setup_elide(&sort_dso, symbol_conf.dso_list, "dso", NULL);