diff --git a/tools/perf/Makefile b/tools/perf/Makefile
index e2ee3b589af7..406999668cab 100644
--- a/tools/perf/Makefile
+++ b/tools/perf/Makefile
@@ -356,7 +356,9 @@ LIB_H += util/parse-options.h
 LIB_H += util/parse-events.h
 LIB_H += util/quote.h
 LIB_H += util/util.h
+LIB_H += util/header.h
 LIB_H += util/help.h
+LIB_H += util/session.h
 LIB_H += util/strbuf.h
 LIB_H += util/string.h
 LIB_H += util/strlist.h
@@ -405,6 +407,7 @@ LIB_OBJS += util/callchain.o
 LIB_OBJS += util/values.o
 LIB_OBJS += util/debug.o
 LIB_OBJS += util/map.o
+LIB_OBJS += util/session.o
 LIB_OBJS += util/thread.o
 LIB_OBJS += util/trace-event-parse.o
 LIB_OBJS += util/trace-event-read.o
diff --git a/tools/perf/builtin-annotate.c b/tools/perf/builtin-annotate.c
index 0bf2e8f9af57..21a78d30d53d 100644
--- a/tools/perf/builtin-annotate.c
+++ b/tools/perf/builtin-annotate.c
@@ -25,6 +25,7 @@
 #include "util/thread.h"
 #include "util/sort.h"
 #include "util/hist.h"
+#include "util/session.h"
 #include "util/data_map.h"
 
 static char		const *input_name = "perf.data";
@@ -462,21 +463,23 @@ static struct perf_file_handler file_handler = {
 
 static int __cmd_annotate(void)
 {
-	struct perf_header *header;
+	struct perf_session *session = perf_session__new(input_name, O_RDONLY, force);
 	struct thread *idle;
 	int ret;
 
+	if (session == NULL)
+		return -ENOMEM;
+
 	idle = register_idle_thread();
 	register_perf_file_handler(&file_handler);
 
-	ret = mmap_dispatch_perf_file(&header, input_name, 0, 0,
-				      &event__cwdlen, &event__cwd);
+	ret = perf_session__process_events(session, 0, &event__cwdlen, &event__cwd);
 	if (ret)
-		return ret;
+		goto out_delete;
 
 	if (dump_trace) {
 		event__print_totals();
-		return 0;
+		goto out_delete;
 	}
 
 	if (verbose > 3)
@@ -489,6 +492,8 @@ static int __cmd_annotate(void)
 	output__resort(event__total[0]);
 
 	find_annotations();
+out_delete:
+	perf_session__delete(session);
 
 	return ret;
 }
diff --git a/tools/perf/builtin-buildid-list.c b/tools/perf/builtin-buildid-list.c
index dcb6143a0002..bfd16a1594e4 100644
--- a/tools/perf/builtin-buildid-list.c
+++ b/tools/perf/builtin-buildid-list.c
@@ -11,8 +11,8 @@
 #include "util/cache.h"
 #include "util/data_map.h"
 #include "util/debug.h"
-#include "util/header.h"
 #include "util/parse-options.h"
+#include "util/session.h"
 #include "util/symbol.h"
 
 static char const *input_name = "perf.data";
@@ -55,56 +55,17 @@ static int perf_file_section__process_buildids(struct perf_file_section *self,
 static int __cmd_buildid_list(void)
 {
 	int err = -1;
-	struct perf_header *header;
-	struct perf_file_header f_header;
-	struct stat input_stat;
-	int input = open(input_name, O_RDONLY);
+	struct perf_session *session = perf_session__new(input_name, O_RDONLY, force);
 
-	if (input < 0) {
-		pr_err("failed to open file: %s", input_name);
-		if (!strcmp(input_name, "perf.data"))
-			pr_err("  (try 'perf record' first)");
-		pr_err("\n");
-		goto out;
-	}
+	if (session == NULL)
+		return -1;
 
-	err = fstat(input, &input_stat);
-	if (err < 0) {
-		perror("failed to stat file");
-		goto out_close;
-	}
-
-	if (!force && input_stat.st_uid && (input_stat.st_uid != geteuid())) {
-		pr_err("file %s not owned by current user or root\n",
-		       input_name);
-		goto out_close;
-	}
-
-	if (!input_stat.st_size) {
-		pr_info("zero-sized file, nothing to do!\n");
-		goto out_close;
-	}
-
-	err = -1;
-	header = perf_header__new();
-	if (header == NULL)
-		goto out_close;
-
-	if (perf_file_header__read(&f_header, header, input) < 0) {
-		pr_warning("incompatible file format");
-		goto out_close;
-	}
-
-	err = perf_header__process_sections(header, input,
+	err = perf_header__process_sections(&session->header, session->fd,
 				         perf_file_section__process_buildids);
+	if (err >= 0)
+		dsos__fprintf_buildid(stdout);
 
-	if (err < 0)
-		goto out_close;
-
-	dsos__fprintf_buildid(stdout);
-out_close:
-	close(input);
-out:
+	perf_session__delete(session);
 	return err;
 }
 
diff --git a/tools/perf/builtin-kmem.c b/tools/perf/builtin-kmem.c
index fe73435192b3..2071d2485913 100644
--- a/tools/perf/builtin-kmem.c
+++ b/tools/perf/builtin-kmem.c
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@
 #include "util/symbol.h"
 #include "util/thread.h"
 #include "util/header.h"
+#include "util/session.h"
 
 #include "util/parse-options.h"
 #include "util/trace-event.h"
@@ -20,7 +21,6 @@ typedef int (*sort_fn_t)(struct alloc_stat *, struct alloc_stat *);
 
 static char const		*input_name = "perf.data";
 
-static struct perf_header	*header;
 static u64			sample_type;
 
 static int			alloc_flag;
@@ -367,11 +367,18 @@ static struct perf_file_handler file_handler = {
 
 static int read_events(void)
 {
+	int err;
+	struct perf_session *session = perf_session__new(input_name, O_RDONLY, 0);
+
+	if (session == NULL)
+		return -ENOMEM;
+
 	register_idle_thread();
 	register_perf_file_handler(&file_handler);
 
-	return mmap_dispatch_perf_file(&header, input_name, 0, 0,
-				       &event__cwdlen, &event__cwd);
+	err = perf_session__process_events(session, 0, &event__cwdlen, &event__cwd);
+	perf_session__delete(session);
+	return err;
 }
 
 static double fragmentation(unsigned long n_req, unsigned long n_alloc)
diff --git a/tools/perf/builtin-record.c b/tools/perf/builtin-record.c
index 0e519c667e3a..4decbd14eaed 100644
--- a/tools/perf/builtin-record.c
+++ b/tools/perf/builtin-record.c
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@
 #include "util/header.h"
 #include "util/event.h"
 #include "util/debug.h"
+#include "util/session.h"
 #include "util/symbol.h"
 
 #include <unistd.h>
@@ -62,7 +63,7 @@ static int			nr_cpu				=      0;
 
 static int			file_new			=      1;
 
-struct perf_header		*header				=   NULL;
+static struct perf_session	*session;
 
 struct mmap_data {
 	int			counter;
@@ -216,12 +217,12 @@ static struct perf_header_attr *get_header_attr(struct perf_event_attr *a, int n
 {
 	struct perf_header_attr *h_attr;
 
-	if (nr < header->attrs) {
-		h_attr = header->attr[nr];
+	if (nr < session->header.attrs) {
+		h_attr = session->header.attr[nr];
 	} else {
 		h_attr = perf_header_attr__new(a);
 		if (h_attr != NULL)
-			if (perf_header__add_attr(header, h_attr) < 0) {
+			if (perf_header__add_attr(&session->header, h_attr) < 0) {
 				perf_header_attr__delete(h_attr);
 				h_attr = NULL;
 			}
@@ -395,9 +396,9 @@ static void open_counters(int cpu, pid_t pid)
 
 static void atexit_header(void)
 {
-	header->data_size += bytes_written;
+	session->header.data_size += bytes_written;
 
-	perf_header__write(header, output, true);
+	perf_header__write(&session->header, output, true);
 }
 
 static int __cmd_record(int argc, const char **argv)
@@ -440,24 +441,24 @@ static int __cmd_record(int argc, const char **argv)
 		exit(-1);
 	}
 
-	header = perf_header__new();
-	if (header == NULL) {
+	session = perf_session__new(output_name, O_WRONLY, force);
+	if (session == NULL) {
 		pr_err("Not enough memory for reading perf file header\n");
 		return -1;
 	}
 
 	if (!file_new) {
-		err = perf_header__read(header, output);
+		err = perf_header__read(&session->header, output);
 		if (err < 0)
 			return err;
 	}
 
 	if (raw_samples) {
-		perf_header__set_feat(header, HEADER_TRACE_INFO);
+		perf_header__set_feat(&session->header, HEADER_TRACE_INFO);
 	} else {
 		for (i = 0; i < nr_counters; i++) {
 			if (attrs[i].sample_type & PERF_SAMPLE_RAW) {
-				perf_header__set_feat(header, HEADER_TRACE_INFO);
+				perf_header__set_feat(&session->header, HEADER_TRACE_INFO);
 				break;
 			}
 		}
@@ -481,7 +482,7 @@ static int __cmd_record(int argc, const char **argv)
 	}
 
 	if (file_new) {
-		err = perf_header__write(header, output, false);
+		err = perf_header__write(&session->header, output, false);
 		if (err < 0)
 			return err;
 	}
diff --git a/tools/perf/builtin-report.c b/tools/perf/builtin-report.c
index 2b9eb3a553ed..e2ec49a9b731 100644
--- a/tools/perf/builtin-report.c
+++ b/tools/perf/builtin-report.c
@@ -22,6 +22,7 @@
 #include "perf.h"
 #include "util/debug.h"
 #include "util/header.h"
+#include "util/session.h"
 
 #include "util/parse-options.h"
 #include "util/parse-events.h"
@@ -52,7 +53,7 @@ static int		exclude_other = 1;
 
 static char		callchain_default_opt[] = "fractal,0.5";
 
-static struct perf_header *header;
+static struct perf_session *session;
 
 static u64		sample_type;
 
@@ -701,7 +702,7 @@ static int process_read_event(event_t *event)
 {
 	struct perf_event_attr *attr;
 
-	attr = perf_header__find_attr(event->read.id, header);
+	attr = perf_header__find_attr(event->read.id, &session->header);
 
 	if (show_threads) {
 		const char *name = attr ? __event_name(attr->type, attr->config)
@@ -766,6 +767,10 @@ static int __cmd_report(void)
 	struct thread *idle;
 	int ret;
 
+	session = perf_session__new(input_name, O_RDONLY, force);
+	if (session == NULL)
+		return -ENOMEM;
+
 	idle = register_idle_thread();
 	thread__comm_adjust(idle);
 
@@ -774,14 +779,14 @@ static int __cmd_report(void)
 
 	register_perf_file_handler(&file_handler);
 
-	ret = mmap_dispatch_perf_file(&header, input_name, force,
-				      full_paths, &event__cwdlen, &event__cwd);
+	ret = perf_session__process_events(session, full_paths,
+					   &event__cwdlen, &event__cwd);
 	if (ret)
-		return ret;
+		goto out_delete;
 
 	if (dump_trace) {
 		event__print_totals();
-		return 0;
+		goto out_delete;
 	}
 
 	if (verbose > 3)
@@ -796,7 +801,8 @@ static int __cmd_report(void)
 
 	if (show_threads)
 		perf_read_values_destroy(&show_threads_values);
-
+out_delete:
+	perf_session__delete(session);
 	return ret;
 }
 
diff --git a/tools/perf/builtin-sched.c b/tools/perf/builtin-sched.c
index 7cca7c15b40a..65021fe1361e 100644
--- a/tools/perf/builtin-sched.c
+++ b/tools/perf/builtin-sched.c
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@
 #include "util/symbol.h"
 #include "util/thread.h"
 #include "util/header.h"
+#include "util/session.h"
 
 #include "util/parse-options.h"
 #include "util/trace-event.h"
@@ -21,7 +22,6 @@
 
 static char			const *input_name = "perf.data";
 
-static struct perf_header	*header;
 static u64			sample_type;
 
 static char			default_sort_order[] = "avg, max, switch, runtime";
@@ -1663,11 +1663,18 @@ static struct perf_file_handler file_handler = {
 
 static int read_events(void)
 {
+	int err;
+	struct perf_session *session = perf_session__new(input_name, O_RDONLY, 0);
+
+	if (session == NULL)
+		return -ENOMEM;
+
 	register_idle_thread();
 	register_perf_file_handler(&file_handler);
 
-	return mmap_dispatch_perf_file(&header, input_name, 0, 0,
-				       &event__cwdlen, &event__cwd);
+	err = perf_session__process_events(session, 0, &event__cwdlen, &event__cwd);
+	perf_session__delete(session);
+	return err;
 }
 
 static void print_bad_events(void)
diff --git a/tools/perf/builtin-timechart.c b/tools/perf/builtin-timechart.c
index f472df9561ee..759dd2b35fdb 100644
--- a/tools/perf/builtin-timechart.c
+++ b/tools/perf/builtin-timechart.c
@@ -1059,15 +1059,17 @@ static struct perf_file_handler file_handler = {
 
 static int __cmd_timechart(void)
 {
-	struct perf_header *header;
+	struct perf_session *session = perf_session__new(input_name, O_RDONLY, 0);
 	int ret;
 
+	if (session == NULL)
+		return -ENOMEM;
+
 	register_perf_file_handler(&file_handler);
 
-	ret = mmap_dispatch_perf_file(&header, input_name, 0, 0,
-				      &event__cwdlen, &event__cwd);
+	ret = perf_session__process_events(session, 0, &event__cwdlen, &event__cwd);
 	if (ret)
-		return EXIT_FAILURE;
+		goto out_delete;
 
 	process_samples();
 
@@ -1079,8 +1081,9 @@ static int __cmd_timechart(void)
 
 	pr_info("Written %2.1f seconds of trace to %s.\n",
 		(last_time - first_time) / 1000000000.0, output_name);
-
-	return EXIT_SUCCESS;
+out_delete:
+	perf_session__delete(session);
+	return ret;
 }
 
 static const char * const timechart_usage[] = {
diff --git a/tools/perf/builtin-trace.c b/tools/perf/builtin-trace.c
index c2fcc34486f5..0756664666f1 100644
--- a/tools/perf/builtin-trace.c
+++ b/tools/perf/builtin-trace.c
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@
 #include "util/header.h"
 #include "util/exec_cmd.h"
 #include "util/trace-event.h"
+#include "util/session.h"
 
 static char const		*script_name;
 static char const		*generate_script_lang;
@@ -61,7 +62,7 @@ static int cleanup_scripting(void)
 
 static char const		*input_name = "perf.data";
 
-static struct perf_header	*header;
+static struct perf_session 	*session;
 static u64			sample_type;
 
 static int process_sample_event(event_t *event)
@@ -126,11 +127,18 @@ static struct perf_file_handler file_handler = {
 
 static int __cmd_trace(void)
 {
+	int err;
+
+	session = perf_session__new(input_name, O_RDONLY, 0);
+	if (session == NULL)
+		return -ENOMEM;
+
 	register_idle_thread();
 	register_perf_file_handler(&file_handler);
 
-	return mmap_dispatch_perf_file(&header, input_name,
-				       0, 0, &event__cwdlen, &event__cwd);
+	err = perf_session__process_events(session, 0, &event__cwdlen, &event__cwd);
+	perf_session__delete(session);
+	return err;
 }
 
 struct script_spec {
@@ -348,11 +356,7 @@ int cmd_trace(int argc, const char **argv, const char *prefix __used)
 			return -1;
 		}
 
-		header = perf_header__new();
-		if (header == NULL)
-			return -1;
-
-		perf_header__read(header, input);
+		perf_header__read(&session->header, input);
 		err = scripting_ops->generate_script("perf-trace");
 		goto out;
 	}
diff --git a/tools/perf/util/data_map.c b/tools/perf/util/data_map.c
index 59b65d0bd7c1..6d46dda53a29 100644
--- a/tools/perf/util/data_map.c
+++ b/tools/perf/util/data_map.c
@@ -129,23 +129,16 @@ int perf_header__read_build_ids(int input, u64 offset, u64 size)
 	return err;
 }
 
-int mmap_dispatch_perf_file(struct perf_header **pheader,
-			    const char *input_name,
-			    int force,
-			    int full_paths,
-			    int *cwdlen,
-			    char **cwd)
+int perf_session__process_events(struct perf_session *self,
+				 int full_paths, int *cwdlen, char **cwd)
 {
 	int err;
-	struct perf_header *header;
 	unsigned long head, shift;
 	unsigned long offset = 0;
-	struct stat input_stat;
 	size_t	page_size;
 	u64 sample_type;
 	event_t *event;
 	uint32_t size;
-	int input;
 	char *buf;
 
 	if (curr_handler == NULL) {
@@ -155,56 +148,19 @@ int mmap_dispatch_perf_file(struct perf_header **pheader,
 
 	page_size = getpagesize();
 
-	input = open(input_name, O_RDONLY);
-	if (input < 0) {
-		pr_err("Failed to open file: %s", input_name);
-		if (!strcmp(input_name, "perf.data"))
-			pr_err("  (try 'perf record' first)");
-		pr_err("\n");
-		return -errno;
-	}
-
-	if (fstat(input, &input_stat) < 0) {
-		pr_err("failed to stat file");
-		err = -errno;
-		goto out_close;
-	}
-
-	err = -EACCES;
-	if (!force && input_stat.st_uid && (input_stat.st_uid != geteuid())) {
-		pr_err("file: %s not owned by current user or root\n",
-			input_name);
-		goto out_close;
-	}
-
-	if (input_stat.st_size == 0) {
-		pr_info("zero-sized file, nothing to do!\n");
-		goto done;
-	}
-
-	err = -ENOMEM;
-	header = perf_header__new();
-	if (header == NULL)
-		goto out_close;
-
-	err = perf_header__read(header, input);
-	if (err < 0)
-		goto out_delete;
-	*pheader = header;
-	head = header->data_offset;
-
-	sample_type = perf_header__sample_type(header);
+	head = self->header.data_offset;
+	sample_type = perf_header__sample_type(&self->header);
 
 	err = -EINVAL;
 	if (curr_handler->sample_type_check &&
 	    curr_handler->sample_type_check(sample_type) < 0)
-		goto out_delete;
+		goto out_err;
 
 	if (!full_paths) {
 		if (getcwd(__cwd, sizeof(__cwd)) == NULL) {
 			pr_err("failed to get the current directory\n");
 			err = -errno;
-			goto out_delete;
+			goto out_err;
 		}
 		*cwd = __cwd;
 		*cwdlen = strlen(*cwd);
@@ -219,11 +175,11 @@ int mmap_dispatch_perf_file(struct perf_header **pheader,
 
 remap:
 	buf = mmap(NULL, page_size * mmap_window, PROT_READ,
-		   MAP_SHARED, input, offset);
+		   MAP_SHARED, self->fd, offset);
 	if (buf == MAP_FAILED) {
 		pr_err("failed to mmap file\n");
 		err = -errno;
-		goto out_delete;
+		goto out_err;
 	}
 
 more:
@@ -273,19 +229,14 @@ int mmap_dispatch_perf_file(struct perf_header **pheader,
 
 	head += size;
 
-	if (offset + head >= header->data_offset + header->data_size)
+	if (offset + head >= self->header.data_offset + self->header.data_size)
 		goto done;
 
-	if (offset + head < (unsigned long)input_stat.st_size)
+	if (offset + head < self->size)
 		goto more;
 
 done:
 	err = 0;
-out_close:
-	close(input);
-
+out_err:
 	return err;
-out_delete:
-	perf_header__delete(header);
-	goto out_close;
 }
diff --git a/tools/perf/util/data_map.h b/tools/perf/util/data_map.h
index 258a87bcc4fb..98c5b823388c 100644
--- a/tools/perf/util/data_map.h
+++ b/tools/perf/util/data_map.h
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@
 
 #include "event.h"
 #include "header.h"
+#include "session.h"
 
 typedef int (*event_type_handler_t)(event_t *);
 
@@ -21,12 +22,8 @@ struct perf_file_handler {
 };
 
 void register_perf_file_handler(struct perf_file_handler *handler);
-int mmap_dispatch_perf_file(struct perf_header **pheader,
-			    const char *input_name,
-			    int force,
-			    int full_paths,
-			    int *cwdlen,
-			    char **cwd);
+int perf_session__process_events(struct perf_session *self,
+				 int full_paths, int *cwdlen, char **cwd);
 int perf_header__read_build_ids(int input, u64 offset, u64 file_size);
 
 #endif
diff --git a/tools/perf/util/header.c b/tools/perf/util/header.c
index 59a9c0b3033e..f2e8d8715111 100644
--- a/tools/perf/util/header.c
+++ b/tools/perf/util/header.c
@@ -58,35 +58,19 @@ int perf_header_attr__add_id(struct perf_header_attr *self, u64 id)
 	return 0;
 }
 
-/*
- * Create new perf.data header:
- */
-struct perf_header *perf_header__new(void)
+int perf_header__init(struct perf_header *self)
 {
-	struct perf_header *self = zalloc(sizeof(*self));
-
-	if (self != NULL) {
-		self->size = 1;
-		self->attr = malloc(sizeof(void *));
-
-		if (self->attr == NULL) {
-			free(self);
-			self = NULL;
-		}
-	}
-
-	return self;
+	self->size = 1;
+	self->attr = malloc(sizeof(void *));
+	return self->attr == NULL ? -ENOMEM : 0;
 }
 
-void perf_header__delete(struct perf_header *self)
+void perf_header__exit(struct perf_header *self)
 {
 	int i;
-
 	for (i = 0; i < self->attrs; ++i)
-		perf_header_attr__delete(self->attr[i]);
-
+                perf_header_attr__delete(self->attr[i]);
 	free(self->attr);
-	free(self);
 }
 
 int perf_header__add_attr(struct perf_header *self,
diff --git a/tools/perf/util/header.h b/tools/perf/util/header.h
index d1dbe2b79c42..d118d05d3abe 100644
--- a/tools/perf/util/header.h
+++ b/tools/perf/util/header.h
@@ -55,8 +55,8 @@ struct perf_header {
 	DECLARE_BITMAP(adds_features, HEADER_FEAT_BITS);
 };
 
-struct perf_header *perf_header__new(void);
-void perf_header__delete(struct perf_header *self);
+int perf_header__init(struct perf_header *self);
+void perf_header__exit(struct perf_header *self);
 
 int perf_header__read(struct perf_header *self, int fd);
 int perf_header__write(struct perf_header *self, int fd, bool at_exit);
diff --git a/tools/perf/util/session.c b/tools/perf/util/session.c
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..707ce1cb1621
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tools/perf/util/session.c
@@ -0,0 +1,80 @@
+#include <linux/kernel.h>
+
+#include <unistd.h>
+#include <sys/types.h>
+
+#include "session.h"
+#include "util.h"
+
+static int perf_session__open(struct perf_session *self, bool force)
+{
+	struct stat input_stat;
+
+	self->fd = open(self->filename, O_RDONLY);
+	if (self->fd < 0) {
+		pr_err("failed to open file: %s", self->filename);
+		if (!strcmp(self->filename, "perf.data"))
+			pr_err("  (try 'perf record' first)");
+		pr_err("\n");
+		return -errno;
+	}
+
+	if (fstat(self->fd, &input_stat) < 0)
+		goto out_close;
+
+	if (!force && input_stat.st_uid && (input_stat.st_uid != geteuid())) {
+		pr_err("file %s not owned by current user or root\n",
+		       self->filename);
+		goto out_close;
+	}
+
+	if (!input_stat.st_size) {
+		pr_info("zero-sized file (%s), nothing to do!\n",
+			self->filename);
+		goto out_close;
+	}
+
+	if (perf_header__read(&self->header, self->fd) < 0) {
+		pr_err("incompatible file format");
+		goto out_close;
+	}
+
+	self->size = input_stat.st_size;
+	return 0;
+
+out_close:
+	close(self->fd);
+	self->fd = -1;
+	return -1;
+}
+
+struct perf_session *perf_session__new(const char *filename, int mode, bool force)
+{
+	size_t len = strlen(filename) + 1;
+	struct perf_session *self = zalloc(sizeof(*self) + len);
+
+	if (self == NULL)
+		goto out;
+
+	if (perf_header__init(&self->header) < 0)
+		goto out_delete;
+
+	memcpy(self->filename, filename, len);
+
+	if (mode == O_RDONLY && perf_session__open(self, force) < 0) {
+		perf_session__delete(self);
+		self = NULL;
+	}
+out:
+	return self;
+out_delete:
+	free(self);
+	return NULL;
+}
+
+void perf_session__delete(struct perf_session *self)
+{
+	perf_header__exit(&self->header);
+	close(self->fd);
+	free(self);
+}
diff --git a/tools/perf/util/session.h b/tools/perf/util/session.h
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..f3699c8c8ed4
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tools/perf/util/session.h
@@ -0,0 +1,16 @@
+#ifndef __PERF_SESSION_H
+#define __PERF_SESSION_H
+
+#include "header.h"
+
+struct perf_session {
+	struct perf_header	header;
+	unsigned long		size;
+	int			fd;
+	char filename[0];
+};
+
+struct perf_session *perf_session__new(const char *filename, int mode, bool force);
+void perf_session__delete(struct perf_session *self);
+
+#endif /* __PERF_SESSION_H */