diff --git a/tools/perf/util/config.c b/tools/perf/util/config.c
index 63d472b336de21d4d197bf9c9590b1c56bcaabab..4fb5e90d7a57ae481873b2d632dc60a992ea165d 100644
--- a/tools/perf/util/config.c
+++ b/tools/perf/util/config.c
@@ -581,7 +581,10 @@ const char *perf_home_perfconfig(void)
 	static const char *config;
 	static bool failed;
 
-	config = failed ? NULL : home_perfconfig();
+	if (failed || config)
+		return config;
+
+	config = home_perfconfig();
 	if (!config)
 		failed = true;