diff --git a/tools/perf/util/synthetic-events.c b/tools/perf/util/synthetic-events.c
index 8a23391558cf..d9c624377da7 100644
--- a/tools/perf/util/synthetic-events.c
+++ b/tools/perf/util/synthetic-events.c
@@ -563,6 +563,9 @@ int perf_event__synthesize_cgroups(struct perf_tool *tool,
 	char cgrp_root[PATH_MAX];
 	size_t mount_len;  /* length of mount point in the path */
 
+	if (!tool || !tool->cgroup_events)
+		return 0;
+
 	if (cgroupfs_find_mountpoint(cgrp_root, PATH_MAX, "perf_event") < 0) {
 		pr_debug("cannot find cgroup mount point\n");
 		return -1;