diff --git a/arch/x86/events/intel/uncore.h b/arch/x86/events/intel/uncore.h
index 33aba2504cb11..b3cad2b65766e 100644
--- a/arch/x86/events/intel/uncore.h
+++ b/arch/x86/events/intel/uncore.h
@@ -419,6 +419,16 @@ static inline bool is_freerunning_event(struct perf_event *event)
 	       (((cfg >> 8) & 0xff) >= UNCORE_FREERUNNING_UMASK_START);
 }
 
+/* Check and reject invalid config */
+static inline int uncore_freerunning_hw_config(struct intel_uncore_box *box,
+					       struct perf_event *event)
+{
+	if (is_freerunning_event(event))
+		return 0;
+
+	return -EINVAL;
+}
+
 static inline void uncore_disable_box(struct intel_uncore_box *box)
 {
 	if (box->pmu->type->ops->disable_box)
diff --git a/arch/x86/events/intel/uncore_snbep.c b/arch/x86/events/intel/uncore_snbep.c
index bbe89bc589f99..fdb1a57ee1e5c 100644
--- a/arch/x86/events/intel/uncore_snbep.c
+++ b/arch/x86/events/intel/uncore_snbep.c
@@ -3585,6 +3585,7 @@ static struct uncore_event_desc skx_uncore_iio_freerunning_events[] = {
 
 static struct intel_uncore_ops skx_uncore_iio_freerunning_ops = {
 	.read_counter		= uncore_msr_read_counter,
+	.hw_config		= uncore_freerunning_hw_config,
 };
 
 static struct attribute *skx_uncore_iio_freerunning_formats_attr[] = {