diff --git a/tools/perf/arch/x86/util/intel-pt.c b/tools/perf/arch/x86/util/intel-pt.c
index db0ba8caf5a2..ba8ecaf52200 100644
--- a/tools/perf/arch/x86/util/intel-pt.c
+++ b/tools/perf/arch/x86/util/intel-pt.c
@@ -524,10 +524,21 @@ static int intel_pt_validate_config(struct perf_pmu *intel_pt_pmu,
 				    struct perf_evsel *evsel)
 {
 	int err;
+	char c;
 
 	if (!evsel)
 		return 0;
 
+	/*
+	 * If supported, force pass-through config term (pt=1) even if user
+	 * sets pt=0, which avoids senseless kernel errors.
+	 */
+	if (perf_pmu__scan_file(intel_pt_pmu, "format/pt", "%c", &c) == 1 &&
+	    !(evsel->attr.config & 1)) {
+		pr_warning("pt=0 doesn't make sense, forcing pt=1\n");
+		evsel->attr.config |= 1;
+	}
+
 	err = intel_pt_val_config_term(intel_pt_pmu, "caps/cycle_thresholds",
 				       "cyc_thresh", "caps/psb_cyc",
 				       evsel->attr.config);