diff --git a/tools/perf/util/parse-events.c b/tools/perf/util/parse-events.c
index 3b273580fb84..3a0a7930cd10 100644
--- a/tools/perf/util/parse-events.c
+++ b/tools/perf/util/parse-events.c
@@ -1442,7 +1442,9 @@ int parse_events_add_pmu(struct parse_events_state *parse_state,
 	bool use_uncore_alias;
 	LIST_HEAD(config_terms);
 
-	if (verbose > 1) {
+	pmu = parse_state->fake_pmu ?: perf_pmu__find(name);
+
+	if (verbose > 1 && !(pmu && pmu->selectable)) {
 		fprintf(stderr, "Attempting to add event pmu '%s' with '",
 			name);
 		if (head_config) {
@@ -1455,7 +1457,6 @@ int parse_events_add_pmu(struct parse_events_state *parse_state,
 		fprintf(stderr, "' that may result in non-fatal errors\n");
 	}
 
-	pmu = parse_state->fake_pmu ?: perf_pmu__find(name);
 	if (!pmu) {
 		char *err_str;