diff --git a/tools/perf/builtin-top.c b/tools/perf/builtin-top.c
index 70f1075cc5b0..676b4fb0070f 100644
--- a/tools/perf/builtin-top.c
+++ b/tools/perf/builtin-top.c
@@ -515,7 +515,9 @@ static void handle_keypress(struct perf_session *session, int c)
 			break;
 		case 'E':
 			if (top.evlist->nr_entries > 1) {
-				int counter;
+				/* Select 0 as the default event: */
+				int counter = 0;
+
 				fprintf(stderr, "\nAvailable events:");
 
 				list_for_each_entry(top.sym_evsel, &top.evlist->entries, node)