diff --git a/kernel/events/core.c b/kernel/events/core.c
index 301079d06f24..7b6646a8c067 100644
--- a/kernel/events/core.c
+++ b/kernel/events/core.c
@@ -907,6 +907,15 @@ list_add_event(struct perf_event *event, struct perf_event_context *ctx)
 		ctx->nr_stat++;
 }
 
+/*
+ * Initialize event state based on the perf_event_attr::disabled.
+ */
+static inline void perf_event__state_init(struct perf_event *event)
+{
+	event->state = event->attr.disabled ? PERF_EVENT_STATE_OFF :
+					      PERF_EVENT_STATE_INACTIVE;
+}
+
 /*
  * Called at perf_event creation and when events are attached/detached from a
  * group.
@@ -6179,8 +6188,7 @@ perf_event_alloc(struct perf_event_attr *attr, int cpu,
 	event->overflow_handler	= overflow_handler;
 	event->overflow_handler_context = context;
 
-	if (attr->disabled)
-		event->state = PERF_EVENT_STATE_OFF;
+	perf_event__state_init(event);
 
 	pmu = NULL;
 
@@ -6609,9 +6617,17 @@ SYSCALL_DEFINE5(perf_event_open,
 
 		mutex_lock(&gctx->mutex);
 		perf_remove_from_context(group_leader);
+
+		/*
+		 * Removing from the context ends up with disabled
+		 * event. What we want here is event in the initial
+		 * startup state, ready to be add into new context.
+		 */
+		perf_event__state_init(group_leader);
 		list_for_each_entry(sibling, &group_leader->sibling_list,
 				    group_entry) {
 			perf_remove_from_context(sibling);
+			perf_event__state_init(sibling);
 			put_ctx(gctx);
 		}
 		mutex_unlock(&gctx->mutex);