diff --git a/tools/perf/util/cloexec.c b/tools/perf/util/cloexec.c
index 5073c01af6180963dbc544a213a9ee578296d8a2..000047cb3fee8849bd926ce7ec9e95861beaf5d6 100644
--- a/tools/perf/util/cloexec.c
+++ b/tools/perf/util/cloexec.c
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@ static int perf_flag_probe(void)
 	struct perf_event_attr attr = {
 		.type = PERF_TYPE_SOFTWARE,
 		.config = PERF_COUNT_SW_CPU_CLOCK,
+		.exclude_kernel = 1,
 	};
 	int fd;
 	int err;