diff --git a/tools/perf/util/zstd.c b/tools/perf/util/zstd.c
index ecda9deb53b7..21a0eb58597c 100644
--- a/tools/perf/util/zstd.c
+++ b/tools/perf/util/zstd.c
@@ -123,14 +123,26 @@ size_t zstd_decompress_stream(struct zstd_data *data, void *src, size_t src_size
 		}
 	}
 	while (input.pos < input.size) {
+		size_t prev_in = input.pos;
+		size_t prev_out = output.pos;
+
 		ret = ZSTD_decompressStream(data->dstream, &output, &input);
 		if (ZSTD_isError(ret)) {
 			pr_err("failed to decompress (B): %zd -> %zd, dst_size %zd : %s\n",
-			       src_size, output.size, dst_size, ZSTD_getErrorName(ret));
-			break;
+			       src_size, output.pos, dst_size, ZSTD_getErrorName(ret));
+			return 0;
 		}
-		output.dst  = dst + output.pos;
-		output.size = dst_size - output.pos;
+		/*
+		 * Neither stream advanced — decompression is stuck.
+		 * Return 0 (error) rather than partial output: perf
+		 * uses ZSTD_flushStream (not ZSTD_endStream), so the
+		 * stream is continuous across compressed events.
+		 * Discarding unconsumed input would desynchronize the
+		 * decompressor, causing the next call to produce
+		 * garbage that could be misinterpreted as valid events.
+		 */
+		if (input.pos == prev_in && output.pos == prev_out)
+			return 0;
 	}
 
 	return output.pos;