diff --git a/arch/x86/events/core.c b/arch/x86/events/core.c
index 39f86188be54..fa0744732444 100644
--- a/arch/x86/events/core.c
+++ b/arch/x86/events/core.c
@@ -623,7 +623,7 @@ int x86_pmu_hw_config(struct perf_event *event)
 	if (event->attr.type == event->pmu->type)
 		event->hw.config |= event->attr.config & X86_RAW_EVENT_MASK;
 
-	if (event->attr.sample_period && x86_pmu.limit_period) {
+	if (!event->attr.freq && x86_pmu.limit_period) {
 		s64 left = event->attr.sample_period;
 		x86_pmu.limit_period(event, &left);
 		if (left > event->attr.sample_period)