arch__add_leaf_frame_record_opts(&rec->opts);
 
        err = -ENOMEM;
-       if (evlist__create_maps(rec->evlist, &rec->opts.target) < 0)
-               usage_with_options(record_usage, record_options);
+       if (evlist__create_maps(rec->evlist, &rec->opts.target) < 0) {
+               if (rec->opts.target.pid != NULL) {
+                       pr_err("Couldn't create thread/CPU maps: %s\n",
+                               errno == ENOENT ? "No such process" : str_error_r(errno, errbuf, sizeof(errbuf)));
+                       goto out;
+               }
+               else
+                       usage_with_options(record_usage, record_options);
+       }
 
        err = auxtrace_record__options(rec->itr, rec->evlist, &rec->opts);
        if (err)