diff --git a/tools/perf/util/parse-events.y b/tools/perf/util/parse-events.y
index 988310cd3049..b6115cbdf842 100644
--- a/tools/perf/util/parse-events.y
+++ b/tools/perf/util/parse-events.y
@@ -226,11 +226,16 @@ event_def: event_pmu |
 event_pmu:
 PE_NAME opt_pmu_config
 {
+	struct parse_events_state *parse_state = _parse_state;
+	struct parse_events_error *error = parse_state->error;
 	struct list_head *list, *orig_terms, *terms;
 
 	if (parse_events_copy_term_list($2, &orig_terms))
 		YYABORT;
 
+	if (error)
+		error->idx = @1.first_column;
+
 	ALLOC_LIST(list);
 	if (parse_events_add_pmu(_parse_state, list, $1, $2)) {
 		struct perf_pmu *pmu = NULL;