diff --git a/tools/perf/util/cs-etm.c b/tools/perf/util/cs-etm.c
index 23159c33db2a..789707bc4e9e 100644
--- a/tools/perf/util/cs-etm.c
+++ b/tools/perf/util/cs-etm.c
@@ -1042,7 +1042,7 @@ static int cs_etm__flush(struct cs_etm_queue *etmq)
 	}
 
 swap_packet:
-	if (etmq->etm->synth_opts.last_branch) {
+	if (etm->sample_branches || etm->synth_opts.last_branch) {
 		/*
 		 * Swap PACKET with PREV_PACKET: PACKET becomes PREV_PACKET for
 		 * the next incoming packet.