diff --git a/tools/perf/util/parse-events.c b/tools/perf/util/parse-events.c
index 3aec86aebdc6..0c0dc20b1c13 100644
--- a/tools/perf/util/parse-events.c
+++ b/tools/perf/util/parse-events.c
@@ -1973,14 +1973,18 @@ static int evlist__cmp(void *_fg_idx, const struct list_head *l, const struct li
 	 * event's index is used. An index may be forced for events that
 	 * must be in the same group, namely Intel topdown events.
 	 */
-	if (*force_grouped_idx != -1 && arch_evsel__must_be_in_group(lhs)) {
+	if (lhs->dont_regroup) {
+		lhs_sort_idx = lhs_core->idx;
+	} else if (*force_grouped_idx != -1 && arch_evsel__must_be_in_group(lhs)) {
 		lhs_sort_idx = *force_grouped_idx;
 	} else {
 		bool lhs_has_group = lhs_core->leader != lhs_core || lhs_core->nr_members > 1;
 
 		lhs_sort_idx = lhs_has_group ? lhs_core->leader->idx : lhs_core->idx;
 	}
-	if (*force_grouped_idx != -1 && arch_evsel__must_be_in_group(rhs)) {
+	if (rhs->dont_regroup) {
+		rhs_sort_idx = rhs_core->idx;
+	} else if (*force_grouped_idx != -1 && arch_evsel__must_be_in_group(rhs)) {
 		rhs_sort_idx = *force_grouped_idx;
 	} else {
 		bool rhs_has_group = rhs_core->leader != rhs_core || rhs_core->nr_members > 1;
@@ -2078,10 +2082,10 @@ static int parse_events__sort_events_and_fix_groups(struct list_head *list)
 	 */
 	idx = 0;
 	list_for_each_entry(pos, list, core.node) {
-		const struct evsel *pos_leader = evsel__leader(pos);
+		struct evsel *pos_leader = evsel__leader(pos);
 		const char *pos_pmu_name = pos->group_pmu_name;
 		const char *cur_leader_pmu_name;
-		bool pos_force_grouped = force_grouped_idx != -1 &&
+		bool pos_force_grouped = force_grouped_idx != -1 && !pos->dont_regroup &&
 			arch_evsel__must_be_in_group(pos);
 
 		/* Reset index and nr_members. */
@@ -2095,8 +2099,8 @@ static int parse_events__sort_events_and_fix_groups(struct list_head *list)
 		 * groups can't span PMUs.
 		 */
 		if (!cur_leader || pos->dont_regroup) {
-			cur_leader = pos;
-			cur_leaders_grp = &pos->core;
+			cur_leader = pos->dont_regroup ? pos_leader : pos;
+			cur_leaders_grp = &cur_leader->core;
 			if (pos_force_grouped)
 				force_grouped_leader = pos;
 		}