diff --git a/tools/perf/util/header.c b/tools/perf/util/header.c
index bcd05d05b4f01969906efe3dbfcc899ccdea554a..33c17a2b2a81e739066991a9a9facd2b38ee0416 100644
--- a/tools/perf/util/header.c
+++ b/tools/perf/util/header.c
@@ -388,7 +388,7 @@ static int write_event_desc(int fd, struct perf_header *h __used,
 		/*
 		 * write event string as passed on cmdline
 		 */
-		ret = do_write_string(fd, attr->name);
+		ret = do_write_string(fd, event_name(attr));
 		if (ret < 0)
 			return ret;
 		/*