diff --git a/tools/perf/python/ilist.py b/tools/perf/python/ilist.py
index ebff0a843b7a..86bd65452e6e 100755
--- a/tools/perf/python/ilist.py
+++ b/tools/perf/python/ilist.py
@@ -82,7 +82,7 @@ class Metric(TreeValue):
         try:
             val = evlist.compute_metric(self.metric_name, cpu, thread)
             return 0 if math.isnan(val) else val
-        except:
+        except (OSError, ValueError, RuntimeError, TypeError):
             # Be tolerant of failures to compute metrics on particular CPUs/threads.
             return 0
 
@@ -419,7 +419,7 @@ class IListApp(App):
             if self.evlist:
                 self.evlist.open()
                 self.evlist.enable()
-        except:
+        except (OSError, ValueError, RuntimeError):
             self.evlist = None
 
         if not self.evlist:
@@ -450,7 +450,7 @@ class IListApp(App):
                 pmu_name = pmu.name().lower()
                 pmu_node = pmus.add(pmu_name)
                 try:
-                    for event in sorted(pmu.events(), key=lambda x: x["name"]):
+                    for event in sorted(pmu.events(), key=lambda x: x.get("name", "")):
                         if "deprecated" in event:
                             continue
                         if "name" in event:
@@ -460,7 +460,7 @@ class IListApp(App):
                                                   data=PmuEvent(pmu_name, e))
                             else:
                                 pmu_node.add_leaf(e, data=PmuEvent(pmu_name, e))
-                except:
+                except (OSError, ValueError, RuntimeError, KeyError, TypeError):
                     # Reading events may fail with EPERM, ignore.
                     pass
             metrics = tree.root.add("Metrics")