diff --git a/tools/perf/perf.c b/tools/perf/perf.c
index 20cb91ef06ff..2f6b67189b42 100644
--- a/tools/perf/perf.c
+++ b/tools/perf/perf.c
@@ -443,6 +443,8 @@ int main(int argc, const char **argv)
 	const char *cmd;
 	char sbuf[STRERR_BUFSIZE];
 
+	perf_debug_setup();
+
 	/* libsubcmd init */
 	exec_cmd_init("perf", PREFIX, PERF_EXEC_PATH, EXEC_PATH_ENVIRONMENT);
 	pager_init(PERF_PAGER_ENVIRONMENT);
@@ -531,8 +533,6 @@ int main(int argc, const char **argv)
 	 */
 	pthread__block_sigwinch();
 
-	perf_debug_setup();
-
 	while (1) {
 		static int done_help;