diff --git a/tools/perf/util/bpf-event.c b/tools/perf/util/bpf-event.c
index 38fcf3ba5749..830711cae30d 100644
--- a/tools/perf/util/bpf-event.c
+++ b/tools/perf/util/bpf-event.c
@@ -386,6 +386,9 @@ int perf_event__synthesize_bpf_events(struct perf_session *session,
 	int err;
 	int fd;
 
+	if (opts->no_bpf_event)
+		return 0;
+
 	event = malloc(sizeof(event->bpf) + KSYM_NAME_LEN + machine->id_hdr_size);
 	if (!event)
 		return -1;