diff --git a/tools/perf/Documentation/perf-record.txt b/tools/perf/Documentation/perf-record.txt
index 27256bc68eda..b16003ec14a7 100644
--- a/tools/perf/Documentation/perf-record.txt
+++ b/tools/perf/Documentation/perf-record.txt
@@ -157,7 +157,7 @@ OPTIONS
 
 -a::
 --all-cpus::
-        System-wide collection from all CPUs.
+        System-wide collection from all CPUs (default if no target is specified).
 
 -p::
 --pid=::
diff --git a/tools/perf/builtin-record.c b/tools/perf/builtin-record.c
index 6cd6776052e7..b87bbef73394 100644
--- a/tools/perf/builtin-record.c
+++ b/tools/perf/builtin-record.c
@@ -1677,8 +1677,10 @@ int cmd_record(int argc, const char **argv, const char *prefix __maybe_unused)
 
 	argc = parse_options(argc, argv, record_options, record_usage,
 			    PARSE_OPT_STOP_AT_NON_OPTION);
+
+	/* Make system wide (-a) the default target. */
 	if (!argc && target__none(&rec->opts.target))
-		usage_with_options(record_usage, record_options);
+		rec->opts.target.system_wide = true;
 
 	if (nr_cgroups && !rec->opts.target.system_wide) {
 		usage_with_options_msg(record_usage, record_options,