diff --git a/tools/perf/perf.c b/tools/perf/perf.c
index 31c9380cfa64..85e1aed95204 100644
--- a/tools/perf/perf.c
+++ b/tools/perf/perf.c
@@ -518,9 +518,8 @@ int main(int argc, const char **argv)
 
 	while (1) {
 		static int done_help;
-		static int was_alias;
+		int was_alias = run_argv(&argc, &argv);
 
-		was_alias = run_argv(&argc, &argv);
 		if (errno != ENOENT)
 			break;