diff --git a/arch/x86/events/core.c b/arch/x86/events/core.c
index 00a6251981d20..9c86e10f11966 100644
--- a/arch/x86/events/core.c
+++ b/arch/x86/events/core.c
@@ -2117,7 +2117,8 @@ static int x86_pmu_event_init(struct perf_event *event)
 			event->destroy(event);
 	}
 
-	if (READ_ONCE(x86_pmu.attr_rdpmc))
+	if (READ_ONCE(x86_pmu.attr_rdpmc) &&
+	    !(event->hw.flags & PERF_X86_EVENT_FREERUNNING))
 		event->hw.flags |= PERF_X86_EVENT_RDPMC_ALLOWED;
 
 	return err;