diff --git a/tools/perf/builtin-top.c b/tools/perf/builtin-top.c
index 8d7c31bd2ebf..cd64ae44ccbd 100644
--- a/tools/perf/builtin-top.c
+++ b/tools/perf/builtin-top.c
@@ -1027,8 +1027,8 @@ static int perf_top__start_counters(struct perf_top *top)
 
 	evlist__for_each_entry(evlist, counter) {
 try_again:
-		if (evsel__open(counter, top->evlist->core.user_requested_cpus,
-				     top->evlist->core.threads) < 0) {
+		if (evsel__open(counter, counter->core.cpus,
+				counter->core.threads) < 0) {
 
 			/*
 			 * Specially handle overwrite fall back.