diff --git a/tools/perf/builtin-annotate.c b/tools/perf/builtin-annotate.c
index 3fe0de0..56ba716 100644
--- a/tools/perf/builtin-annotate.c
+++ b/tools/perf/builtin-annotate.c
@@ -104,14 +104,14 @@
 		event->ip.pid,
 		(void *)(long)ip);
 
-	dump_printf(" ... thread: %s:%d\n", thread->comm, thread->pid);
-
 	if (thread == NULL) {
 		fprintf(stderr, "problem processing %d event, skipping it.\n",
 			event->header.type);
 		return -1;
 	}
 
+	dump_printf(" ... thread: %s:%d\n", thread->comm, thread->pid);
+
 	if (event->header.misc & PERF_RECORD_MISC_KERNEL) {
 		level = 'k';
 		sym = kernel_maps__find_symbol(ip, &map);