diff --git a/tools/perf/util/session.c b/tools/perf/util/session.c
index 736d4fd..60eab8b 100644
--- a/tools/perf/util/session.c
+++ b/tools/perf/util/session.c
@@ -393,3 +393,14 @@
 out_err:
 	return err;
 }
+
+int perf_session__has_traces(struct perf_session *self)
+{
+	if (!(self->sample_type & PERF_SAMPLE_RAW)) {
+		pr_err("No trace sample to read. Did you call perf record "
+		       "without -R?");
+		return -1;
+	}
+
+	return 0;
+}
diff --git a/tools/perf/util/session.h b/tools/perf/util/session.h
index 32eaa1b..a6951d2 100644
--- a/tools/perf/util/session.h
+++ b/tools/perf/util/session.h
@@ -56,6 +56,8 @@
 						struct ip_callchain *chain,
 						struct symbol **parent);
 
+int perf_session__has_traces(struct perf_session *self);
+
 int perf_header__read_build_ids(int input, u64 offset, u64 file_size);
 
 #endif /* __PERF_SESSION_H */