diff --git a/tools/perf/builtin-buildid-list.c b/tools/perf/builtin-buildid-list.c
index 918b4de29de4..6419f57b0850 100644
--- a/tools/perf/builtin-buildid-list.c
+++ b/tools/perf/builtin-buildid-list.c
@@ -110,7 +110,7 @@ int cmd_buildid_list(int argc, const char **argv,
 	setup_pager();
 
 	if (show_kernel)
-		return sysfs__fprintf_build_id(stdout);
+		return !(sysfs__fprintf_build_id(stdout) > 0);
 
 	return perf_session__list_build_ids(force, with_hits);
 }