diff --git a/tools/perf/tests/shell/test_arm_coresight.sh b/tools/perf/tests/shell/test_arm_coresight.sh
index da2f599393e2..83295a8fe179 100755
--- a/tools/perf/tests/shell/test_arm_coresight.sh
+++ b/tools/perf/tests/shell/test_arm_coresight.sh
@@ -179,10 +179,9 @@ arm_cs_etm_snapshot_test() {
 
 arm_cs_etm_basic_test() {
 	echo "Recording trace with '$*'"
-	perf record -o ${perfdata} "$@" -m,8M -- ls > /dev/null 2>&1
+	perf record -o ${perfdata} "$@" -- true > /dev/null 2>&1
 
-	perf_script_branch_samples ls &&
-	perf_report_instruction_samples ls
+	perf_script_branch_samples true
 
 	err=$?
 	arm_cs_report "CoreSight basic testing with '$*'" $err
@@ -246,12 +245,12 @@ arm_cs_etm_snapshot_test
 
 # Test all combinations of per-thread, system-wide and normal mode with
 # and without timestamps
-arm_cs_etm_basic_test -e cs_etm/timestamp=0/ --per-thread
-arm_cs_etm_basic_test -e cs_etm/timestamp=1/ --per-thread
-arm_cs_etm_basic_test -e cs_etm/timestamp=0/ -a
-arm_cs_etm_basic_test -e cs_etm/timestamp=1/ -a
-arm_cs_etm_basic_test -e cs_etm/timestamp=0/
-arm_cs_etm_basic_test -e cs_etm/timestamp=1/
+arm_cs_etm_basic_test -e cs_etm/timestamp=0/u --per-thread
+arm_cs_etm_basic_test -e cs_etm/timestamp=1/u --per-thread
+arm_cs_etm_basic_test -e cs_etm/timestamp=0/u -a
+arm_cs_etm_basic_test -e cs_etm/timestamp=1/u -a
+arm_cs_etm_basic_test -e cs_etm/timestamp=0/u
+arm_cs_etm_basic_test -e cs_etm/timestamp=1/u
 
 arm_cs_etm_sparse_cpus_test