diff --git a/init/Kconfig b/init/Kconfig
index 823ee0a2d2a31b884cad58753b194ad4bf7004e7..3f7e60995c80714888df391cd8b91ef0f5982306 100644
--- a/init/Kconfig
+++ b/init/Kconfig
@@ -940,6 +940,7 @@ menu "Performance Counters"
 
 config PERF_COUNTERS
 	bool "Kernel Performance Counters"
+	default y if PROFILING
 	depends on HAVE_PERF_COUNTERS
 	select ANON_INODES
 	help