diff --git a/tools/perf/builtin-kvm.c b/tools/perf/builtin-kvm.c
index 3eb53e33c02b9..a28c9cad9048f 100644
--- a/tools/perf/builtin-kvm.c
+++ b/tools/perf/builtin-kvm.c
@@ -664,16 +664,9 @@ static struct perf_tool eops = {
 
 static int get_cpu_isa(struct perf_session *session)
 {
-	char *cpuid;
+	char *cpuid = session->header.env.cpuid;
 	int isa;
 
-	cpuid = perf_header__read_feature(session, HEADER_CPUID);
-
-	if (!cpuid) {
-		pr_err("read HEADER_CPUID failed.\n");
-		return -ENOTSUP;
-	}
-
 	if (strstr(cpuid, "Intel"))
 		isa = 1;
 	else if (strstr(cpuid, "AMD"))
@@ -683,7 +676,6 @@ static int get_cpu_isa(struct perf_session *session)
 		isa = -ENOTSUP;
 	}
 
-	free(cpuid);
 	return isa;
 }