diff --git a/arch/arm64/kernel/perf_event.c b/arch/arm64/kernel/perf_event.c
index 2012646fb46f..12e6ccb88691 100644
--- a/arch/arm64/kernel/perf_event.c
+++ b/arch/arm64/kernel/perf_event.c
@@ -322,6 +322,9 @@ validate_event(struct pmu_hw_events *hw_events,
 	struct hw_perf_event fake_event = event->hw;
 	struct pmu *leader_pmu = event->group_leader->pmu;
 
+	if (is_software_event(event))
+		return 1;
+
 	if (event->pmu != leader_pmu || event->state <= PERF_EVENT_STATE_OFF)
 		return 1;