diff --git a/drivers/perf/arm_pmu.c b/drivers/perf/arm_pmu.c
index 295cc7952d0e..57d20cf3da7a 100644
--- a/drivers/perf/arm_pmu.c
+++ b/drivers/perf/arm_pmu.c
@@ -398,6 +398,9 @@ validate_group(struct perf_event *event)
 	if (!validate_event(event->pmu, &fake_pmu, leader))
 		return -EINVAL;
 
+	if (event == leader)
+		return 0;
+
 	for_each_sibling_event(sibling, leader) {
 		if (!validate_event(event->pmu, &fake_pmu, sibling))
 			return -EINVAL;
@@ -487,12 +490,7 @@ __hw_perf_event_init(struct perf_event *event)
 		local64_set(&hwc->period_left, hwc->sample_period);
 	}
 
-	if (event->group_leader != event) {
-		if (validate_group(event) != 0)
-			return -EINVAL;
-	}
-
-	return 0;
+	return validate_group(event);
 }
 
 static int armpmu_event_init(struct perf_event *event)