diff --git a/tools/perf/util/evlist.c b/tools/perf/util/evlist.c
index 25c3ebe2c2f5..e36da58522ef 100644
--- a/tools/perf/util/evlist.c
+++ b/tools/perf/util/evlist.c
@@ -251,6 +251,9 @@ static struct evsel *evlist__dummy_event(struct evlist *evlist)
 		.type	= PERF_TYPE_SOFTWARE,
 		.config = PERF_COUNT_SW_DUMMY,
 		.size	= sizeof(attr), /* to capture ABI version */
+		/* Avoid frequency mode for dummy events to avoid associated timers. */
+		.freq = 0,
+		.sample_period = 1,
 	};
 
 	return evsel__new_idx(&attr, evlist->core.nr_entries);
@@ -277,8 +280,6 @@ struct evsel *evlist__add_aux_dummy(struct evlist *evlist, bool system_wide)
 	evsel->core.attr.exclude_kernel = 1;
 	evsel->core.attr.exclude_guest = 1;
 	evsel->core.attr.exclude_hv = 1;
-	evsel->core.attr.freq = 0;
-	evsel->core.attr.sample_period = 1;
 	evsel->core.system_wide = system_wide;
 	evsel->no_aux_samples = true;
 	evsel->name = strdup("dummy:u");