1 files changed, 5 insertions, 2 deletions

diff --git a/tools/perf/builtin-record.c b/tools/perf/builtin-record.c
index 29259e74dcfa..0f5771f615da 100644
--- a/tools/perf/builtin-record.c
+++ b/tools/perf/builtin-record.c
@@ -568,8 +568,11 @@ int cmd_record(int argc, const char **argv, const char *prefix)
         if (!argc && target_pid == -1 && !system_wide)
                 usage_with_options(record_usage, options);
 
-        if (!nr_counters)
-                nr_counters = 1;
+        if (!nr_counters) {
+                nr_counters     = 1;
+                attrs[0].type   = PERF_TYPE_HARDWARE;
+                attrs[0].config = PERF_COUNT_HW_CPU_CYCLES;
+        }
 
         for (counter = 0; counter < nr_counters; counter++) {
                 if (attrs[counter].sample_period)