diff --git a/tools/perf/util/evlist.c b/tools/perf/util/evlist.c
index 6689378ee577..51ead577533f 100644
--- a/tools/perf/util/evlist.c
+++ b/tools/perf/util/evlist.c
@@ -1868,12 +1868,12 @@ static void *perf_evlist__poll_thread(void *arg)
 {
 	struct perf_evlist *evlist = arg;
 	bool draining = false;
-	int i;
+	int i, done = 0;
 
-	while (draining || !(evlist->thread.done)) {
-		if (draining)
-			draining = false;
-		else if (evlist->thread.done)
+	while (!done) {
+		bool got_data = false;
+
+		if (evlist->thread.done)
 			draining = true;
 
 		if (!draining)
@@ -1894,9 +1894,13 @@ static void *perf_evlist__poll_thread(void *arg)
 					pr_warning("cannot locate proper evsel for the side band event\n");
 
 				perf_mmap__consume(map);
+				got_data = true;
 			}
 			perf_mmap__read_done(map);
 		}
+
+		if (draining && !got_data)
+			break;
 	}
 	return NULL;
 }