diff --git a/tools/perf/util/dwarf-aux.c b/tools/perf/util/dwarf-aux.c
index 920054425578..449bc9ad7aff 100644
--- a/tools/perf/util/dwarf-aux.c
+++ b/tools/perf/util/dwarf-aux.c
@@ -1423,6 +1423,34 @@ static bool match_var_offset(Dwarf_Die *die_mem, struct find_var_data *data,
 	return true;
 }
 
+/**
+ * is_breg_access_indirect - Check if breg based access implies type
+ * dereference
+ * @ops: DWARF operations array
+ * @nops: Number of operations in @ops
+ *
+ * Returns true if the DWARF expression evaluates to the variable's
+ * value, so the memory access on that register needs type dereference.
+ * Returns false if the expression evaluates to the variable's address.
+ * This is called after check_allowed_ops.
+ */
+static bool is_breg_access_indirect(Dwarf_Op *ops, size_t nops)
+{
+	/* only the base register */
+	if (nops == 1)
+		return false;
+
+	if (nops == 2 && ops[1].atom == DW_OP_stack_value)
+		return true;
+
+	if (nops == 3 && (ops[1].atom == DW_OP_deref ||
+		ops[1].atom == DW_OP_deref_size) &&
+		ops[2].atom == DW_OP_stack_value)
+		return false;
+	/* unreachable, OP not supported */
+	return false;
+}
+
 /* Only checks direct child DIEs in the given scope. */
 static int __die_find_var_reg_cb(Dwarf_Die *die_mem, void *arg)
 {
@@ -1451,7 +1479,7 @@ static int __die_find_var_reg_cb(Dwarf_Die *die_mem, void *arg)
 		if (data->is_fbreg && ops->atom == DW_OP_fbreg &&
 		    check_allowed_ops(ops, nops) &&
 		    match_var_offset(die_mem, data, data->offset, ops->number,
-				     /*is_pointer=*/false))
+				     is_breg_access_indirect(ops, nops)))
 			return DIE_FIND_CB_END;
 
 		/* Only match with a simple case */
@@ -1463,11 +1491,11 @@ static int __die_find_var_reg_cb(Dwarf_Die *die_mem, void *arg)
 					     /*is_pointer=*/true))
 				return DIE_FIND_CB_END;
 
-			/* Local variables accessed by a register + offset */
+			/* variables accessed by a register + offset */
 			if (ops->atom == (DW_OP_breg0 + data->reg) &&
 			    check_allowed_ops(ops, nops) &&
 			    match_var_offset(die_mem, data, data->offset, ops->number,
-					     /*is_pointer=*/false))
+					     is_breg_access_indirect(ops, nops)))
 				return DIE_FIND_CB_END;
 		} else {
 			/* pointer variables saved in a register 32 or above */
@@ -1477,11 +1505,11 @@ static int __die_find_var_reg_cb(Dwarf_Die *die_mem, void *arg)
 					     /*is_pointer=*/true))
 				return DIE_FIND_CB_END;
 
-			/* Local variables accessed by a register + offset */
+			/* variables accessed by a register + offset */
 			if (ops->atom == DW_OP_bregx && data->reg == ops->number &&
 			    check_allowed_ops(ops, nops) &&
 			    match_var_offset(die_mem, data, data->offset, ops->number2,
-					     /*is_poitner=*/false))
+					     is_breg_access_indirect(ops, nops)))
 				return DIE_FIND_CB_END;
 		}
 	}