diff --git a/tools/perf/builtin-inject.c b/tools/perf/builtin-inject.c
index b9d6306cc14e..af70f1c72052 100644
--- a/tools/perf/builtin-inject.c
+++ b/tools/perf/builtin-inject.c
@@ -1078,7 +1078,8 @@ int cmd_inject(int argc, const char **argv)
 	zstd_fini(&(inject.session->zstd_data));
 	perf_session__delete(inject.session);
 out_close_output:
-	perf_data__close(&inject.output);
+	if (!inject.in_place_update)
+		perf_data__close(&inject.output);
 	free(inject.itrace_synth_opts.vm_tm_corr_args);
 	return ret;
 }