diff --git a/tools/perf/perf.h b/tools/perf/perf.h
index 55086389fc06..96f62dd7e3ed 100644
--- a/tools/perf/perf.h
+++ b/tools/perf/perf.h
@@ -24,7 +24,9 @@ static inline unsigned long long rdclock(void)
 	return ts.tv_sec * 1000000000ULL + ts.tv_nsec;
 }
 
+#ifndef MAX_NR_CPUS
 #define MAX_NR_CPUS			1024
+#endif
 
 extern const char *input_name;
 extern bool perf_host, perf_guest;