int symbol__init(void)
 {
+       if (symbol_conf.initialized)
+               return 0;
+
        elf_version(EV_CURRENT);
        if (symbol_conf.sort_by_name)
                symbol_conf.priv_size += (sizeof(struct symbol_name_rb_node) -
                       symbol_conf.sym_list_str, "symbol") < 0)
                goto out_free_comm_list;
 
+       symbol_conf.initialized = true;
        return 0;
 
 out_free_dso_list:
 
 void symbol__exit(void)
 {
+       if (!symbol_conf.initialized)
+               return;
        strlist__delete(symbol_conf.sym_list);
        strlist__delete(symbol_conf.dso_list);
        strlist__delete(symbol_conf.comm_list);
        vmlinux_path__exit();
        symbol_conf.sym_list = symbol_conf.dso_list = symbol_conf.comm_list = NULL;
+       symbol_conf.initialized = false;
 }
 
 int machines__create_kernel_maps(struct rb_root *self, pid_t pid)