diff --git a/src/parsers/perf/perfparser.cpp b/src/parsers/perf/perfparser.cpp
index f5efdd569..a67a25814 100644
--- a/src/parsers/perf/perfparser.cpp
+++ b/src/parsers/perf/perfparser.cpp
@@ -1583,16 +1583,18 @@ void PerfParser::startParseFile(const QString& path)
             emit parsingFinished();
         };
 
-        if (path.endsWith(QLatin1String(".perfparser"))) {
-            QFile file(path);
-            if (!file.open(QIODevice::ReadOnly)) {
-                emit parsingFailed(tr("Failed to open file %1: %2").arg(path, file.errorString()));
-                return;
-            }
+        QFile file(path);
+        if (!file.open(QIODevice::ReadOnly)) {
+            emit parsingFailed(tr("Failed to open file %1: %2").arg(path, file.errorString()));
+            return;
+        }
+
+        if (file.peek(11) == "QPERFSTREAM") {
             d.setInput(&file);
             while (!file.atEnd() && !d.stopRequested) {
                 if (!d.tryParse()) {
-                    emit parsingFailed(tr("Failed to parse file"));
+                    // TODO: provide reason
+                    emit parsingFailed(tr("Failed to parse file %1: %2").arg(path, QStringLiteral("unknown reason")));
                     return;
                 }
             }
@@ -1600,6 +1602,16 @@ void PerfParser::startParseFile(const QString& path)
             return;
         }
 
+        if (file.peek(8) == "PERFFILE") {
+            emit parsingFailed(tr("Failed to parse file %1: %2").arg(path, tr("we don't support V1 perf data")));
+            return;
+        }
+
+        if (file.peek(8) != "PERFILE2") {
+            emit parsingFailed(tr("Failed to parse file %1: %2").arg(path, tr("File format unknown")));
+            return;
+        }
+
         QProcess process;
         process.setProcessEnvironment(perfparserEnvironment(debuginfodUrls));
         process.setProcessChannelMode(QProcess::ForwardedErrorChannel);