diff --git a/tools/perf/util/evsel.c b/tools/perf/util/evsel.c
index 7c704b8f0e5c..d4540bfe4574 100644
--- a/tools/perf/util/evsel.c
+++ b/tools/perf/util/evsel.c
@@ -282,7 +282,7 @@ struct evsel *perf_evsel__new_idx(struct perf_event_attr *attr, int idx)
 
 static bool perf_event_can_profile_kernel(void)
 {
-	return perf_event_paranoid_check(-1);
+	return perf_event_paranoid_check(1);
 }
 
 struct evsel *perf_evsel__new_cycles(bool precise)