diff --git a/tools/perf/arch/x86/util/evlist.c b/tools/perf/arch/x86/util/evlist.c
index cfc208d71f00a..75564a7df15be 100644
--- a/tools/perf/arch/x86/util/evlist.c
+++ b/tools/perf/arch/x86/util/evlist.c
@@ -36,7 +36,7 @@ struct evsel *arch_evlist__leader(struct list_head *list)
 				if (slots == first)
 					return first;
 			}
-			if (!strncasecmp(evsel->name, "topdown", 7))
+			if (strcasestr(evsel->name, "topdown"))
 				has_topdown = true;
 			if (slots && has_topdown)
 				return slots;