diff --git a/cmd/memlat/database.go b/cmd/memlat/database.go
index fad1bb9..617d92d 100644
--- a/cmd/memlat/database.go
+++ b/cmd/memlat/database.go
@@ -175,6 +175,11 @@ func parsePerf(fileName string) *database {
 		}
 	}
 
+	if err := rs.Err(); err != nil {
+		fmt.Printf("error while reading record: %s\n", err)
+		os.Exit(1)
+	}
+
 	if numSamples == 0 {
 		fmt.Printf("no memory latency samples in %s (did you use \"perf mem record\"?)\n", fileName)
 		os.Exit(1)
diff --git a/perffile/records.go b/perffile/records.go
index 6ce00b5..af8c0af 100644
--- a/perffile/records.go
+++ b/perffile/records.go
@@ -105,11 +105,18 @@ func (r *Records) Next() bool {
 
 	// Parse common sample_id fields
 	if r.f.sampleIDAll && hdr.Type != RecordTypeSample && hdr.Type < recordTypeUserStart {
-		// mmap records in the prologue don't have eventAttrs
+		// some records in the prologue don't have eventAttrs
 		// in recent perf versions, but that's okay.
 		//
 		// TODO: When is perf okay with missing eventAttrs?
-		r.parseCommon(bd, &common, hdr.Type == RecordTypeMmap)
+		missingOk := (hdr.Type == RecordTypeMmap) ||
+			(hdr.Type == RecordTypeFork) ||
+			(hdr.Type == RecordTypeComm) ||
+			(hdr.Type == recordTypeMmap2)
+		r.parseCommon(bd, &common, missingOk)
+		if r.err != nil {
+			return false
+		}
 	}
 
 	// Parse record