return ret;
 
        argc = parse_options(argc, argv, options, annotate_usage, 0);
+       if (argc) {
+               /*
+                * Special case: if there's an argument left then assume that
+                * it's a symbol filter:
+                */
+               if (argc > 1)
+                       usage_with_options(annotate_usage, options);
+
+               annotate.sym_hist_filter = argv[0];
+       }
 
        if (annotate.use_stdio)
                use_browser = 0;
        if (setup_sorting() < 0)
                usage_with_options(annotate_usage, options);
 
-       if (argc) {
-               /*
-                * Special case: if there's an argument left then assume that
-                * it's a symbol filter:
-                */
-               if (argc > 1)
-                       usage_with_options(annotate_usage, options);
-
-               annotate.sym_hist_filter = argv[0];
-       }
-
        ret = __cmd_annotate(&annotate);
 
 out_delete: