diff --git a/tools/perf/builtin-top.c b/tools/perf/builtin-top.c
index 40264eaa9f0f..34096275a7b5 100644
--- a/tools/perf/builtin-top.c
+++ b/tools/perf/builtin-top.c
@@ -943,8 +943,10 @@ try_again:
 			 * based cpu-clock-tick sw counter, which
 			 * is always available even if no PMU support:
 			 */
-			if (attr->type == PERF_TYPE_HARDWARE &&
-			    attr->config == PERF_COUNT_HW_CPU_CYCLES) {
+			if ((err == ENOENT || err == ENXIO) &&
+			    (attr->type == PERF_TYPE_HARDWARE) &&
+			    (attr->config == PERF_COUNT_HW_CPU_CYCLES)) {
+
 				if (verbose)
 					ui__warning("Cycles event not supported,\n"
 						    "trying to fall back to cpu-clock-ticks\n");