diff --git a/tools/perf/util/evsel.c b/tools/perf/util/evsel.c
index d7a2b4b9801d8a0690b2114c2b5195c0b5179222..f4f427ce4d641446747bfa196c333020ef22644f 100644
--- a/tools/perf/util/evsel.c
+++ b/tools/perf/util/evsel.c
@@ -70,6 +70,7 @@ void perf_evsel__config(struct perf_evsel *evsel, struct perf_record_opts *opts,
 	struct perf_event_attr *attr = &evsel->attr;
 	int track = !evsel->idx; /* only the first counter needs these */
 
+	attr->disabled = 1;
 	attr->sample_id_all = opts->sample_id_all_missing ? 0 : 1;
 	attr->inherit	    = !opts->no_inherit;
 	attr->read_format   = PERF_FORMAT_TOTAL_TIME_ENABLED |
@@ -138,7 +139,6 @@ void perf_evsel__config(struct perf_evsel *evsel, struct perf_record_opts *opts,
 
 	if (perf_target__none(&opts->target) &&
 	    (!opts->group || evsel == first)) {
-		attr->disabled = 1;
 		attr->enable_on_exec = 1;
 	}
 }