diff --git a/tools/perf/builtin-annotate.c b/tools/perf/builtin-annotate.c
index 4ac618b3425..4c7bc443623 100644
--- a/tools/perf/builtin-annotate.c
+++ b/tools/perf/builtin-annotate.c
@@ -984,8 +984,8 @@ static int __cmd_annotate(void)
 		exit(-1);
 	}
 
-	if (!force && (input_stat.st_uid != geteuid())) {
-		fprintf(stderr, "file: %s not owned by current user\n", input_name);
+	if (!force && input_stat.st_uid && (input_stat.st_uid != geteuid())) {
+		fprintf(stderr, "file: %s not owned by current user or root\n", input_name);
 		exit(-1);
 	}
 
diff --git a/tools/perf/builtin-report.c b/tools/perf/builtin-report.c
index d2e28820ee6..ea6328a893c 100644
--- a/tools/perf/builtin-report.c
+++ b/tools/perf/builtin-report.c
@@ -1405,8 +1405,8 @@ static int __cmd_report(void)
 		exit(-1);
 	}
 
-	if (!force && (input_stat.st_uid != geteuid())) {
-		fprintf(stderr, "file: %s not owned by current user\n", input_name);
+	if (!force && input_stat.st_uid && (input_stat.st_uid != geteuid())) {
+		fprintf(stderr, "file: %s not owned by current user or root\n", input_name);
 		exit(-1);
 	}