diff --git a/tools/perf/util/stat-display.c b/tools/perf/util/stat-display.c
index 2b69d238858c..0a5750bb59fa 100644
--- a/tools/perf/util/stat-display.c
+++ b/tools/perf/util/stat-display.c
@@ -821,9 +821,9 @@ static void printout(struct perf_stat_config *config, struct outstate *os,
 		ok = false;
 
 		if (counter->supported) {
-			if (!evlist__has_hybrid_pmus(counter->evlist)) {
+			if (!evlist__has_hybrid_pmus(counter->evlist) &&
+			    counter->pmu && counter->pmu->is_core)
 				config->print_free_counters_hint = 1;
-			}
 		}
 	}