diff --git a/tools/perf/Makefile.perf b/tools/perf/Makefile.perf
index 8f1c258b151a..e9ec531131ca 100644
--- a/tools/perf/Makefile.perf
+++ b/tools/perf/Makefile.perf
@@ -201,6 +201,7 @@ goals := $(filter-out all sub-make, $(MAKECMDGOALS))
 $(goals) all: sub-make
 
 sub-make: fixdep
+	@./check-headers.sh
 	$(Q)$(MAKE) FIXDEP=1 -f Makefile.perf $(goals)
 
 else # force_fixdep
@@ -404,99 +405,6 @@ export JEVENTS
 build := -f $(srctree)/tools/build/Makefile.build dir=. obj
 
 $(PERF_IN): prepare FORCE
-	@(test -f ../../include/uapi/linux/perf_event.h && ( \
-        (diff -B ../include/uapi/linux/perf_event.h ../../include/uapi/linux/perf_event.h >/dev/null) \
-        || echo "Warning: tools/include/uapi/linux/perf_event.h differs from kernel" >&2 )) || true
-	@(test -f ../../include/linux/hash.h && ( \
-        (diff -B ../include/linux/hash.h ../../include/linux/hash.h >/dev/null) \
-        || echo "Warning: tools/include/linux/hash.h differs from kernel" >&2 )) || true
-	@(test -f ../../include/uapi/linux/hw_breakpoint.h && ( \
-        (diff -B ../include/uapi/linux/hw_breakpoint.h ../../include/uapi/linux/hw_breakpoint.h >/dev/null) \
-        || echo "Warning: tools/include/uapi/linux/hw_breakpoint.h differs from kernel" >&2 )) || true
-	@(test -f ../../arch/x86/include/asm/disabled-features.h && ( \
-        (diff -B ../arch/x86/include/asm/disabled-features.h ../../arch/x86/include/asm/disabled-features.h >/dev/null) \
-        || echo "Warning: tools/arch/x86/include/asm/disabled-features.h differs from kernel" >&2 )) || true
-	@(test -f ../../arch/x86/include/asm/required-features.h && ( \
-        (diff -B ../arch/x86/include/asm/required-features.h ../../arch/x86/include/asm/required-features.h >/dev/null) \
-        || echo "Warning: tools/arch/x86/include/asm/required-features.h differs from kernel" >&2 )) || true
-	@(test -f ../../arch/x86/include/asm/cpufeatures.h && ( \
-        (diff -B ../arch/x86/include/asm/cpufeatures.h ../../arch/x86/include/asm/cpufeatures.h >/dev/null) \
-        || echo "Warning: tools/arch/x86/include/asm/cpufeatures.h differs from kernel" >&2 )) || true
-	@(test -f ../../arch/x86/lib/memcpy_64.S && ( \
-        (diff -B -I "^EXPORT_SYMBOL" -I "^#include <asm/export.h>" ../arch/x86/lib/memcpy_64.S ../../arch/x86/lib/memcpy_64.S >/dev/null) \
-        || echo "Warning: tools/arch/x86/lib/memcpy_64.S differs from kernel" >&2 )) || true
-	@(test -f ../../arch/x86/lib/memset_64.S && ( \
-        (diff -B -I "^EXPORT_SYMBOL" -I "^#include <asm/export.h>" ../arch/x86/lib/memset_64.S ../../arch/x86/lib/memset_64.S >/dev/null) \
-        || echo "Warning: tools/arch/x86/lib/memset_64.S differs from kernel" >&2 )) || true
-	@(test -f ../../arch/arm/include/uapi/asm/perf_regs.h && ( \
-        (diff -B ../arch/arm/include/uapi/asm/perf_regs.h ../../arch/arm/include/uapi/asm/perf_regs.h >/dev/null) \
-        || echo "Warning: tools/arch/arm/include/uapi/asm/perf_regs.h differs from kernel" >&2 )) || true
-	@(test -f ../../arch/arm64/include/uapi/asm/perf_regs.h && ( \
-        (diff -B ../arch/arm64/include/uapi/asm/perf_regs.h ../../arch/arm64/include/uapi/asm/perf_regs.h >/dev/null) \
-        || echo "Warning: tools/arch/arm64/include/uapi/asm/perf_regs.h differs from kernel" >&2 )) || true
-	@(test -f ../../arch/powerpc/include/uapi/asm/perf_regs.h && ( \
-        (diff -B ../arch/powerpc/include/uapi/asm/perf_regs.h ../../arch/powerpc/include/uapi/asm/perf_regs.h >/dev/null) \
-        || echo "Warning: tools/arch/powerpc/include/uapi/asm/perf_regs.h differs from kernel" >&2 )) || true
-	@(test -f ../../arch/x86/include/uapi/asm/perf_regs.h && ( \
-        (diff -B ../arch/x86/include/uapi/asm/perf_regs.h ../../arch/x86/include/uapi/asm/perf_regs.h >/dev/null) \
-        || echo "Warning: tools/arch/x86/include/uapi/asm/perf_regs.h differs from kernel" >&2 )) || true
-	@(test -f ../../arch/x86/include/uapi/asm/kvm.h && ( \
-        (diff -B ../arch/x86/include/uapi/asm/kvm.h ../../arch/x86/include/uapi/asm/kvm.h >/dev/null) \
-        || echo "Warning: tools/arch/x86/include/uapi/asm/kvm.h differs from kernel" >&2 )) || true
-	@(test -f ../../arch/x86/include/uapi/asm/kvm_perf.h && ( \
-        (diff -B ../arch/x86/include/uapi/asm/kvm_perf.h ../../arch/x86/include/uapi/asm/kvm_perf.h >/dev/null) \
-        || echo "Warning: tools/arch/x86/include/uapi/asm/kvm_perf.h differs from kernel" >&2 )) || true
-	@(test -f ../../arch/x86/include/uapi/asm/svm.h && ( \
-        (diff -B ../arch/x86/include/uapi/asm/svm.h ../../arch/x86/include/uapi/asm/svm.h >/dev/null) \
-        || echo "Warning: tools/arch/x86/include/uapi/asm/svm.h differs from kernel" >&2 )) || true
-	@(test -f ../../arch/x86/include/uapi/asm/vmx.h && ( \
-        (diff -B ../arch/x86/include/uapi/asm/vmx.h ../../arch/x86/include/uapi/asm/vmx.h >/dev/null) \
-        || echo "Warning: tools/arch/x86/include/uapi/asm/vmx.h differs from kernel" >&2 )) || true
-	@(test -f ../../arch/powerpc/include/uapi/asm/kvm.h && ( \
-        (diff -B ../arch/powerpc/include/uapi/asm/kvm.h ../../arch/powerpc/include/uapi/asm/kvm.h >/dev/null) \
-        || echo "Warning: tools/arch/powerpc/include/uapi/asm/kvm.h differs from kernel" >&2 )) || true
-	@(test -f ../../arch/s390/include/uapi/asm/kvm.h && ( \
-        (diff -B ../arch/s390/include/uapi/asm/kvm.h ../../arch/s390/include/uapi/asm/kvm.h >/dev/null) \
-        || echo "Warning: tools/arch/s390/include/uapi/asm/kvm.h differs from kernel" >&2 )) || true
-	@(test -f ../../arch/s390/include/uapi/asm/kvm_perf.h && ( \
-        (diff -B ../arch/s390/include/uapi/asm/kvm_perf.h ../../arch/s390/include/uapi/asm/kvm_perf.h >/dev/null) \
-        || echo "Warning: tools/arch/s390/include/uapi/asm/kvm_perf.h differs from kernel" >&2 )) || true
-	@(test -f ../../arch/s390/include/uapi/asm/sie.h && ( \
-        (diff -B ../arch/s390/include/uapi/asm/sie.h ../../arch/s390/include/uapi/asm/sie.h >/dev/null) \
-        || echo "Warning: tools/arch/s390/include/uapi/asm/sie.h differs from kernel" >&2 )) || true
-	@(test -f ../../arch/arm/include/uapi/asm/kvm.h && ( \
-        (diff -B ../arch/arm/include/uapi/asm/kvm.h ../../arch/arm/include/uapi/asm/kvm.h >/dev/null) \
-        || echo "Warning: tools/arch/arm/include/uapi/asm/kvm.h differs from kernel" >&2 )) || true
-	@(test -f ../../arch/arm64/include/uapi/asm/kvm.h && ( \
-        (diff -B ../arch/arm64/include/uapi/asm/kvm.h ../../arch/arm64/include/uapi/asm/kvm.h >/dev/null) \
-        || echo "Warning: tools/arch/arm64/include/uapi/asm/kvm.h differs from kernel" >&2 )) || true
-	@(test -f ../../include/asm-generic/bitops/arch_hweight.h && ( \
-        (diff -B ../include/asm-generic/bitops/arch_hweight.h ../../include/asm-generic/bitops/arch_hweight.h >/dev/null) \
-        || echo "Warning: tools/include/asm-generic/bitops/arch_hweight.h differs from kernel" >&2 )) || true
-	@(test -f ../../include/asm-generic/bitops/const_hweight.h && ( \
-        (diff -B ../include/asm-generic/bitops/const_hweight.h ../../include/asm-generic/bitops/const_hweight.h >/dev/null) \
-        || echo "Warning: tools/include/asm-generic/bitops/const_hweight.h differs from kernel" >&2 )) || true
-	@(test -f ../../include/asm-generic/bitops/__fls.h && ( \
-        (diff -B ../include/asm-generic/bitops/__fls.h ../../include/asm-generic/bitops/__fls.h >/dev/null) \
-        || echo "Warning: tools/include/asm-generic/bitops/__fls.h differs from kernel" >&2 )) || true
-	@(test -f ../../include/asm-generic/bitops/fls.h && ( \
-        (diff -B ../include/asm-generic/bitops/fls.h ../../include/asm-generic/bitops/fls.h >/dev/null) \
-        || echo "Warning: tools/include/asm-generic/bitops/fls.h differs from kernel" >&2 )) || true
-	@(test -f ../../include/asm-generic/bitops/fls64.h && ( \
-        (diff -B ../include/asm-generic/bitops/fls64.h ../../include/asm-generic/bitops/fls64.h >/dev/null) \
-        || echo "Warning: tools/include/asm-generic/bitops/fls64.h differs from kernel" >&2 )) || true
-	@(test -f ../../include/linux/coresight-pmu.h && ( \
-	(diff -B ../include/linux/coresight-pmu.h ../../include/linux/coresight-pmu.h >/dev/null) \
-	|| echo "Warning: tools/include/linux/coresight-pmu.h differs from kernel" >&2 )) || true
-	@(test -f ../../include/uapi/asm-generic/mman-common.h && ( \
-	(diff -B ../include/uapi/asm-generic/mman-common.h ../../include/uapi/asm-generic/mman-common.h >/dev/null) \
-	|| echo "Warning: tools/include/uapi/asm-generic/mman-common.h differs from kernel" >&2 )) || true
-	@(test -f ../../include/uapi/asm-generic/mman.h && ( \
-	(diff -B -I "^#include <\(uapi/\)*asm-generic/mman-common.h>$$" ../include/uapi/asm-generic/mman.h ../../include/uapi/asm-generic/mman.h >/dev/null) \
-	|| echo "Warning: tools/include/uapi/asm-generic/mman.h differs from kernel" >&2 )) || true
-	@(test -f ../../include/uapi/linux/mman.h && ( \
-	(diff -B -I "^#include <\(uapi/\)*asm/mman.h>$$" ../include/uapi/linux/mman.h ../../include/uapi/linux/mman.h >/dev/null) \
-	|| echo "Warning: tools/include/uapi/linux/mman.h differs from kernel" >&2 )) || true
 	$(Q)$(MAKE) $(build)=perf
 
 $(JEVENTS_IN): FORCE
diff --git a/tools/perf/check-headers.sh b/tools/perf/check-headers.sh
new file mode 100755
index 000000000000..c747bfd7f14d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tools/perf/check-headers.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,59 @@
+#!/bin/sh
+
+HEADERS='
+include/uapi/linux/perf_event.h
+include/linux/hash.h
+include/uapi/linux/hw_breakpoint.h
+arch/x86/include/asm/disabled-features.h
+arch/x86/include/asm/required-features.h
+arch/x86/include/asm/cpufeatures.h
+arch/arm/include/uapi/asm/perf_regs.h
+arch/arm64/include/uapi/asm/perf_regs.h
+arch/powerpc/include/uapi/asm/perf_regs.h
+arch/x86/include/uapi/asm/perf_regs.h
+arch/x86/include/uapi/asm/kvm.h
+arch/x86/include/uapi/asm/kvm_perf.h
+arch/x86/include/uapi/asm/svm.h
+arch/x86/include/uapi/asm/vmx.h
+arch/powerpc/include/uapi/asm/kvm.h
+arch/s390/include/uapi/asm/kvm.h
+arch/s390/include/uapi/asm/kvm_perf.h
+arch/s390/include/uapi/asm/sie.h
+arch/arm/include/uapi/asm/kvm.h
+arch/arm64/include/uapi/asm/kvm.h
+include/asm-generic/bitops/arch_hweight.h
+include/asm-generic/bitops/const_hweight.h
+include/asm-generic/bitops/__fls.h
+include/asm-generic/bitops/fls.h
+include/asm-generic/bitops/fls64.h
+include/linux/coresight-pmu.h
+include/uapi/asm-generic/mman-common.h
+'
+
+check () {
+  file=$1
+  opts=
+
+  shift
+  while [ -n "$*" ]; do
+    opts="$opts \"$1\""
+    shift
+  done
+
+  cmd="diff $opts ../$file ../../$file > /dev/null"
+
+  test -f ../../$file &&
+  eval $cmd || echo "Warning: $file differs from kernel" >&2
+}
+
+
+# simple diff check
+for i in $HEADERS; do
+  check $i -B
+done
+
+# diff with extra ignore lines
+check arch/x86/lib/memcpy_64.S        -B -I "^EXPORT_SYMBOL" -I "^#include <asm/export.h>"
+check arch/x86/lib/memset_64.S        -B -I "^EXPORT_SYMBOL" -I "^#include <asm/export.h>"
+check include/uapi/asm-generic/mman.h -B -I "^#include <\(uapi/\)*asm-generic/mman-common.h>"
+check include/uapi/linux/mman.h       -B -I "^#include <\(uapi/\)*asm/mman.h>"