diff --git a/tools/perf/util/bpf_lock_contention.c b/tools/perf/util/bpf_lock_contention.c
index 41a1ad087895..a286e15b16a4 100644
--- a/tools/perf/util/bpf_lock_contention.c
+++ b/tools/perf/util/bpf_lock_contention.c
@@ -26,6 +26,9 @@ int lock_contention_prepare(struct lock_contention *con)
 	struct evlist *evlist = con->evlist;
 	struct target *target = con->target;
 
+	/* make sure it loads the kernel map before lookup */
+	map__load(machine__kernel_map(con->machine));
+
 	skel = lock_contention_bpf__open();
 	if (!skel) {
 		pr_err("Failed to open lock-contention BPF skeleton\n");
@@ -443,9 +446,6 @@ int lock_contention_read(struct lock_contention *con)
 		bpf_prog_test_run_opts(prog_fd, &opts);
 	}
 
-	/* make sure it loads the kernel map */
-	maps__load_first(machine->kmaps);
-
 	prev_key = NULL;
 	while (!bpf_map_get_next_key(fd, prev_key, &key)) {
 		s64 ls_key;