diff --git a/drivers/perf/arm-cmn.c b/drivers/perf/arm-cmn.c
index 9f2edc28d16e..5a57c3f10d27 100644
--- a/drivers/perf/arm-cmn.c
+++ b/drivers/perf/arm-cmn.c
@@ -1546,7 +1546,7 @@ static int arm_cmn_event_init(struct perf_event *event)
 	type = CMN_EVENT_TYPE(event);
 	/* DTC events (i.e. cycles) already have everything they need */
 	if (type == CMN_TYPE_DTC)
-		return 0;
+		return arm_cmn_validate_group(cmn, event);
 
 	eventid = CMN_EVENT_EVENTID(event);
 	/* For watchpoints we need the actual XP node here */