diff --git a/src/util/virperf.c b/src/util/virperf.c
index 0ae474432a93c5568254d5a2ad6b85b6b9162132..bd6558733b3a96a2313c1f22d2796f281336a644 100644
--- a/src/util/virperf.c
+++ b/src/util/virperf.c
@@ -186,7 +186,7 @@ virPerfEventEnable(virPerfPtr perf,
 
     switch (type) {
     case VIR_PERF_EVENT_CMT:
-        if (virPerfCmtEnable(event, pid))
+        if (virPerfCmtEnable(event, pid) < 0)
             return -1;
         break;
     case VIR_PERF_EVENT_LAST: