diff --git a/tools/perf/util/header.c b/tools/perf/util/header.c
index 304f5d710143..cad17c07bd43 100644
--- a/tools/perf/util/header.c
+++ b/tools/perf/util/header.c
@@ -2591,6 +2591,13 @@ int perf_session__read_header(struct perf_session *session)
 			   file->path);
 	}
 
+	if (f_header.attr_size == 0) {
+		pr_err("ERROR: The %s file's attr size field is 0 which is unexpected.\n"
+		       "Was the 'perf record' command properly terminated?\n",
+		       file->path);
+		return -EINVAL;
+	}
+
 	nr_attrs = f_header.attrs.size / f_header.attr_size;
 	lseek(fd, f_header.attrs.offset, SEEK_SET);