diff --git a/tools/perf/builtin-top.c b/tools/perf/builtin-top.c
index c53cdab61433..4eb6171e143b 100644
--- a/tools/perf/builtin-top.c
+++ b/tools/perf/builtin-top.c
@@ -948,6 +948,10 @@ static void perf_top__start_counters(struct perf_top *top)
 
 				attr->type = PERF_TYPE_SOFTWARE;
 				attr->config = PERF_COUNT_SW_CPU_CLOCK;
+				if (counter->name) {
+					free(counter->name);
+					counter->name = strdup(event_name(counter));
+				}
 				goto try_again;
 			}