diff --git a/arch/x86/events/core.c b/arch/x86/events/core.c
index 0f3d01562ded..cb5cfef3a938 100644
--- a/arch/x86/events/core.c
+++ b/arch/x86/events/core.c
@@ -1326,11 +1326,11 @@ int x86_perf_event_set_period(struct perf_event *event)
 	wrmsrl(hwc->event_base, (u64)(-left) & x86_pmu.cntval_mask);
 
 	/*
-	 * Clear the Merge event counter's upper 16 bits since
+	 * Sign extend the Merge event counter's upper 16 bits since
 	 * we currently declare a 48-bit counter width
 	 */
 	if (is_counter_pair(hwc))
-		wrmsrl(x86_pmu_event_addr(idx + 1), 0);
+		wrmsrl(x86_pmu_event_addr(idx + 1), 0xffff);
 
 	/*
 	 * Due to erratum on certan cpu we need