diff --git a/tools/perf/util/trigger.h b/tools/perf/util/trigger.h
index 370138e7e35c..88223bc7c82b 100644
--- a/tools/perf/util/trigger.h
+++ b/tools/perf/util/trigger.h
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@
  * States and transits:
  *
  *
- *  OFF--(on)--> READY --(hit)--> HIT
+ *  OFF--> ON --> READY --(hit)--> HIT
  *                 ^               |
  *                 |            (ready)
  *                 |               |
@@ -27,8 +27,9 @@ struct trigger {
 	volatile enum {
 		TRIGGER_ERROR		= -2,
 		TRIGGER_OFF		= -1,
-		TRIGGER_READY		= 0,
-		TRIGGER_HIT		= 1,
+		TRIGGER_ON		= 0,
+		TRIGGER_READY		= 1,
+		TRIGGER_HIT		= 2,
 	} state;
 	const char *name;
 };
@@ -50,7 +51,7 @@ static inline bool trigger_is_error(struct trigger *t)
 static inline void trigger_on(struct trigger *t)
 {
 	TRIGGER_WARN_ONCE(t, TRIGGER_OFF);
-	t->state = TRIGGER_READY;
+	t->state = TRIGGER_ON;
 }
 
 static inline void trigger_ready(struct trigger *t)