diff --git a/tools/perf/util/symbol.c b/tools/perf/util/symbol.c
index d05727fcb30d2..317c0706852fc 100644
--- a/tools/perf/util/symbol.c
+++ b/tools/perf/util/symbol.c
@@ -1377,10 +1377,23 @@ static int dso__load_kcore(struct dso *dso, struct map *map,
 
 	/* Find the kernel map using the '_stext' symbol */
 	if (!kallsyms__get_function_start(kallsyms_filename, "_stext", &stext)) {
+		u64 replacement_size = 0;
+
 		list_for_each_entry(new_map, &md.maps, node) {
-			if (stext >= new_map->start && stext < new_map->end) {
+			u64 new_size = new_map->end - new_map->start;
+
+			if (!(stext >= new_map->start && stext < new_map->end))
+				continue;
+
+			/*
+			 * On some architectures, ARM64 for example, the kernel
+			 * text can get allocated inside of the vmalloc segment.
+			 * Select the smallest matching segment, in case stext
+			 * falls within more than one in the list.
+			 */
+			if (!replacement_map || new_size < replacement_size) {
 				replacement_map = new_map;
-				break;
+				replacement_size = new_size;
 			}
 		}
 	}