diff --git a/tools/perf/tests/task-exit.c b/tools/perf/tests/task-exit.c
index 32873ec91a4e..cf00ebad2ef5 100644
--- a/tools/perf/tests/task-exit.c
+++ b/tools/perf/tests/task-exit.c
@@ -83,7 +83,7 @@ int test__task_exit(int subtest __maybe_unused)
 
 	evsel = perf_evlist__first(evlist);
 	evsel->attr.task = 1;
-	evsel->attr.sample_freq = 0;
+	evsel->attr.sample_freq = 1;
 	evsel->attr.inherit = 0;
 	evsel->attr.watermark = 0;
 	evsel->attr.wakeup_events = 1;
diff --git a/tools/perf/util/evsel.c b/tools/perf/util/evsel.c
index e4f7902d5afa..cda44b0e821c 100644
--- a/tools/perf/util/evsel.c
+++ b/tools/perf/util/evsel.c
@@ -273,8 +273,20 @@ struct perf_evsel *perf_evsel__new_cycles(void)
 	struct perf_evsel *evsel;
 
 	event_attr_init(&attr);
+	/*
+	 * Unnamed union member, not supported as struct member named
+	 * initializer in older compilers such as gcc 4.4.7
+	 *
+	 * Just for probing the precise_ip:
+	 */
+	attr.sample_period = 1;
 
 	perf_event_attr__set_max_precise_ip(&attr);
+	/*
+	 * Now let the usual logic to set up the perf_event_attr defaults
+	 * to kick in when we return and before perf_evsel__open() is called.
+	 */
+	attr.sample_period = 0;
 
 	evsel = perf_evsel__new(&attr);
 	if (evsel == NULL)