diff --git a/src/hotspot/os/linux/os_perf_linux.cpp b/src/hotspot/os/linux/os_perf_linux.cpp
index ff416d47eb0..25600c36bd4 100644
--- a/src/hotspot/os/linux/os_perf_linux.cpp
+++ b/src/hotspot/os/linux/os_perf_linux.cpp
@@ -847,7 +847,7 @@ SystemProcessInterface::SystemProcesses::ProcessIterator::ProcessIterator() {
 bool SystemProcessInterface::SystemProcesses::ProcessIterator::initialize() {
   _dir = os::opendir("/proc");
   _entry = nullptr;
-  _valid = true;
+  _valid = _dir != nullptr; // May be null if /proc is not accessible.
   next_process();
 
   return true;