diff --git a/tools/perf/builtin-stat.c b/tools/perf/builtin-stat.c
index e77880b5094d..df2fbf046ee2 100644
--- a/tools/perf/builtin-stat.c
+++ b/tools/perf/builtin-stat.c
@@ -161,6 +161,13 @@ static int create_perf_stat_counter(struct perf_evsel *evsel)
 
 	attr->inherit = !no_inherit;
 
+	/*
+	 * Some events get initialized with sample_(period/type) set,
+	 * like tracepoints. Clear it up for counting.
+	 */
+	attr->sample_period = 0;
+	attr->sample_type   = 0;
+
 	if (target__has_cpu(&target))
 		return perf_evsel__open_per_cpu(evsel, perf_evsel__cpus(evsel));