diff --git a/tools/lib/api/Makefile b/tools/lib/api/Makefile
index ce00f7ee6455..36c08b1f4afb 100644
--- a/tools/lib/api/Makefile
+++ b/tools/lib/api/Makefile
@@ -10,9 +10,14 @@ LIB_OBJS=
 
 LIB_H += fs/debugfs.h
 LIB_H += fs/fs.h
+# See comment below about piggybacking...
+LIB_H += fd/array.h
 
 LIB_OBJS += $(OUTPUT)fs/debugfs.o
 LIB_OBJS += $(OUTPUT)fs/fs.o
+# XXX piggybacking here, need to introduce libapikfd, or rename this
+# to plain libapik.a and make it have it all api goodies
+LIB_OBJS += $(OUTPUT)fd/array.o
 
 LIBFILE = libapikfs.a
 
@@ -29,7 +34,7 @@ $(LIBFILE): $(LIB_OBJS)
 $(LIB_OBJS): $(LIB_H)
 
 libapi_dirs:
-	$(QUIET_MKDIR)mkdir -p $(OUTPUT)fs/
+	$(QUIET_MKDIR)mkdir -p $(OUTPUT)fd $(OUTPUT)fs
 
 $(OUTPUT)%.o: %.c libapi_dirs
 	$(QUIET_CC)$(CC) -o $@ -c $(ALL_CFLAGS) $<
diff --git a/tools/lib/api/fd/array.c b/tools/lib/api/fd/array.c
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..0e636c4339b8
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tools/lib/api/fd/array.c
@@ -0,0 +1,127 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright (C) 2014, Red Hat Inc, Arnaldo Carvalho de Melo <acme@redhat.com>
+ *
+ * Released under the GPL v2. (and only v2, not any later version)
+ */
+#include "array.h"
+#include <errno.h>
+#include <fcntl.h>
+#include <poll.h>
+#include <stdlib.h>
+#include <unistd.h>
+
+void fdarray__init(struct fdarray *fda, int nr_autogrow)
+{
+	fda->entries	 = NULL;
+	fda->priv	 = NULL;
+	fda->nr		 = fda->nr_alloc = 0;
+	fda->nr_autogrow = nr_autogrow;
+}
+
+int fdarray__grow(struct fdarray *fda, int nr)
+{
+	void *priv;
+	int nr_alloc = fda->nr_alloc + nr;
+	size_t psize = sizeof(fda->priv[0]) * nr_alloc;
+	size_t size  = sizeof(struct pollfd) * nr_alloc;
+	struct pollfd *entries = realloc(fda->entries, size);
+
+	if (entries == NULL)
+		return -ENOMEM;
+
+	priv = realloc(fda->priv, psize);
+	if (priv == NULL) {
+		free(entries);
+		return -ENOMEM;
+	}
+
+	fda->nr_alloc = nr_alloc;
+	fda->entries  = entries;
+	fda->priv     = priv;
+	return 0;
+}
+
+struct fdarray *fdarray__new(int nr_alloc, int nr_autogrow)
+{
+	struct fdarray *fda = calloc(1, sizeof(*fda));
+
+	if (fda != NULL) {
+		if (fdarray__grow(fda, nr_alloc)) {
+			free(fda);
+			fda = NULL;
+		} else {
+			fda->nr_autogrow = nr_autogrow;
+		}
+	}
+
+	return fda;
+}
+
+void fdarray__exit(struct fdarray *fda)
+{
+	free(fda->entries);
+	free(fda->priv);
+	fdarray__init(fda, 0);
+}
+
+void fdarray__delete(struct fdarray *fda)
+{
+	fdarray__exit(fda);
+	free(fda);
+}
+
+int fdarray__add(struct fdarray *fda, int fd, short revents)
+{
+	int pos = fda->nr;
+
+	if (fda->nr == fda->nr_alloc &&
+	    fdarray__grow(fda, fda->nr_autogrow) < 0)
+		return -ENOMEM;
+
+	fda->entries[fda->nr].fd     = fd;
+	fda->entries[fda->nr].events = revents;
+	fda->nr++;
+	return pos;
+}
+
+int fdarray__filter(struct fdarray *fda, short revents,
+		    void (*entry_destructor)(struct fdarray *fda, int fd))
+{
+	int fd, nr = 0;
+
+	if (fda->nr == 0)
+		return 0;
+
+	for (fd = 0; fd < fda->nr; ++fd) {
+		if (fda->entries[fd].revents & revents) {
+			if (entry_destructor)
+				entry_destructor(fda, fd);
+
+			continue;
+		}
+
+		if (fd != nr) {
+			fda->entries[nr] = fda->entries[fd];
+			fda->priv[nr]	 = fda->priv[fd];
+		}
+
+		++nr;
+	}
+
+	return fda->nr = nr;
+}
+
+int fdarray__poll(struct fdarray *fda, int timeout)
+{
+	return poll(fda->entries, fda->nr, timeout);
+}
+
+int fdarray__fprintf(struct fdarray *fda, FILE *fp)
+{
+	int fd, printed = fprintf(fp, "%d [ ", fda->nr);
+
+	for (fd = 0; fd < fda->nr; ++fd)
+		printed += fprintf(fp, "%s%d", fd ? ", " : "", fda->entries[fd].fd);
+
+	return printed + fprintf(fp, " ]");
+}
diff --git a/tools/lib/api/fd/array.h b/tools/lib/api/fd/array.h
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..45db01818f45
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tools/lib/api/fd/array.h
@@ -0,0 +1,46 @@
+#ifndef __API_FD_ARRAY__
+#define __API_FD_ARRAY__
+
+#include <stdio.h>
+
+struct pollfd;
+
+/**
+ * struct fdarray: Array of file descriptors
+ *
+ * @priv: Per array entry priv area, users should access just its contents,
+ *	  not set it to anything, as it is kept in synch with @entries, being
+ *	  realloc'ed, * for instance, in fdarray__{grow,filter}.
+ *
+ *	  I.e. using 'fda->priv[N].idx = * value' where N < fda->nr is ok,
+ *	  but doing 'fda->priv = malloc(M)' is not allowed.
+ */
+struct fdarray {
+	int	       nr;
+	int	       nr_alloc;
+	int	       nr_autogrow;
+	struct pollfd *entries;
+	union {
+		int    idx;
+	} *priv;
+};
+
+void fdarray__init(struct fdarray *fda, int nr_autogrow);
+void fdarray__exit(struct fdarray *fda);
+
+struct fdarray *fdarray__new(int nr_alloc, int nr_autogrow);
+void fdarray__delete(struct fdarray *fda);
+
+int fdarray__add(struct fdarray *fda, int fd, short revents);
+int fdarray__poll(struct fdarray *fda, int timeout);
+int fdarray__filter(struct fdarray *fda, short revents,
+		    void (*entry_destructor)(struct fdarray *fda, int fd));
+int fdarray__grow(struct fdarray *fda, int extra);
+int fdarray__fprintf(struct fdarray *fda, FILE *fp);
+
+static inline int fdarray__available_entries(struct fdarray *fda)
+{
+	return fda->nr_alloc - fda->nr;
+}
+
+#endif /* __API_FD_ARRAY__ */
diff --git a/tools/perf/Makefile.perf b/tools/perf/Makefile.perf
index 171f4e65601b..262916f4a377 100644
--- a/tools/perf/Makefile.perf
+++ b/tools/perf/Makefile.perf
@@ -402,6 +402,7 @@ LIB_OBJS += $(OUTPUT)tests/perf-record.o
 LIB_OBJS += $(OUTPUT)tests/rdpmc.o
 LIB_OBJS += $(OUTPUT)tests/evsel-roundtrip-name.o
 LIB_OBJS += $(OUTPUT)tests/evsel-tp-sched.o
+LIB_OBJS += $(OUTPUT)tests/fdarray.o
 LIB_OBJS += $(OUTPUT)tests/pmu.o
 LIB_OBJS += $(OUTPUT)tests/hists_common.o
 LIB_OBJS += $(OUTPUT)tests/hists_link.o
@@ -769,7 +770,7 @@ $(LIBTRACEEVENT)-clean:
 install-traceevent-plugins: $(LIBTRACEEVENT)
 	$(QUIET_SUBDIR0)$(TRACE_EVENT_DIR) $(LIBTRACEEVENT_FLAGS) install_plugins
 
-LIBAPIKFS_SOURCES = $(wildcard $(LIB_PATH)fs/*.[ch])
+LIBAPIKFS_SOURCES = $(wildcard $(LIB_PATH)fs/*.[ch] $(LIB_PATH)fd/*.[ch])
 
 # if subdir is set, we've been called from above so target has been built
 # already
diff --git a/tools/perf/builtin-kvm.c b/tools/perf/builtin-kvm.c
index f5d3ae483110..1e639d6265cc 100644
--- a/tools/perf/builtin-kvm.c
+++ b/tools/perf/builtin-kvm.c
@@ -919,15 +919,8 @@ static int kvm_events_live_report(struct perf_kvm_stat *kvm)
 	signal(SIGINT, sig_handler);
 	signal(SIGTERM, sig_handler);
 
-	/* copy pollfds -- need to add timerfd and stdin */
-	nr_fds = kvm->evlist->nr_fds;
-	pollfds = zalloc(sizeof(struct pollfd) * (nr_fds + 2));
-	if (!pollfds) {
-		err = -ENOMEM;
-		goto out;
-	}
-	memcpy(pollfds, kvm->evlist->pollfd,
-		sizeof(struct pollfd) * kvm->evlist->nr_fds);
+	/* use pollfds -- need to add timerfd and stdin */
+	nr_fds = kvm->evlist->pollfd.nr;
 
 	/* add timer fd */
 	if (perf_kvm__timerfd_create(kvm) < 0) {
@@ -935,17 +928,21 @@ static int kvm_events_live_report(struct perf_kvm_stat *kvm)
 		goto out;
 	}
 
-	pollfds[nr_fds].fd = kvm->timerfd;
-	pollfds[nr_fds].events = POLLIN;
+	if (perf_evlist__add_pollfd(kvm->evlist, kvm->timerfd))
+		goto out;
+
 	nr_fds++;
 
-	pollfds[nr_fds].fd = fileno(stdin);
-	pollfds[nr_fds].events = POLLIN;
+	if (perf_evlist__add_pollfd(kvm->evlist, fileno(stdin)))
+		goto out;
+
 	nr_stdin = nr_fds;
 	nr_fds++;
 	if (fd_set_nonblock(fileno(stdin)) != 0)
 		goto out;
 
+	pollfds	 = kvm->evlist->pollfd.entries;
+
 	/* everything is good - enable the events and process */
 	perf_evlist__enable(kvm->evlist);
 
@@ -979,7 +976,6 @@ out:
 		close(kvm->timerfd);
 
 	tcsetattr(0, TCSAFLUSH, &save);
-	free(pollfds);
 	return err;
 }
 
diff --git a/tools/perf/builtin-record.c b/tools/perf/builtin-record.c
index a1b040394170..320b198b54dd 100644
--- a/tools/perf/builtin-record.c
+++ b/tools/perf/builtin-record.c
@@ -308,7 +308,7 @@ static int __cmd_record(struct record *rec, int argc, const char **argv)
 	struct record_opts *opts = &rec->opts;
 	struct perf_data_file *file = &rec->file;
 	struct perf_session *session;
-	bool disabled = false;
+	bool disabled = false, draining = false;
 
 	rec->progname = argv[0];
 
@@ -457,9 +457,9 @@ static int __cmd_record(struct record *rec, int argc, const char **argv)
 		}
 
 		if (hits == rec->samples) {
-			if (done)
+			if (done || draining)
 				break;
-			err = poll(rec->evlist->pollfd, rec->evlist->nr_fds, -1);
+			err = perf_evlist__poll(rec->evlist, -1);
 			/*
 			 * Propagate error, only if there's any. Ignore positive
 			 * number of returned events and interrupt error.
@@ -467,6 +467,9 @@ static int __cmd_record(struct record *rec, int argc, const char **argv)
 			if (err > 0 || (err < 0 && errno == EINTR))
 				err = 0;
 			waking++;
+
+			if (perf_evlist__filter_pollfd(rec->evlist, POLLERR | POLLHUP) == 0)
+				draining = true;
 		}
 
 		/*
diff --git a/tools/perf/builtin-top.c b/tools/perf/builtin-top.c
index e13864be2acb..832fb527ed90 100644
--- a/tools/perf/builtin-top.c
+++ b/tools/perf/builtin-top.c
@@ -964,7 +964,7 @@ static int __cmd_top(struct perf_top *top)
                 perf_evlist__enable(top->evlist);
 
 	/* Wait for a minimal set of events before starting the snapshot */
-	poll(top->evlist->pollfd, top->evlist->nr_fds, 100);
+	perf_evlist__poll(top->evlist, 100);
 
 	perf_top__mmap_read(top);
 
@@ -991,7 +991,7 @@ static int __cmd_top(struct perf_top *top)
 		perf_top__mmap_read(top);
 
 		if (hits == top->samples)
-			ret = poll(top->evlist->pollfd, top->evlist->nr_fds, 100);
+			ret = perf_evlist__poll(top->evlist, 100);
 	}
 
 	ret = 0;
diff --git a/tools/perf/builtin-trace.c b/tools/perf/builtin-trace.c
index a9e96ff49c7f..fe39dc620179 100644
--- a/tools/perf/builtin-trace.c
+++ b/tools/perf/builtin-trace.c
@@ -2044,6 +2044,7 @@ static int trace__run(struct trace *trace, int argc, const char **argv)
 	int err = -1, i;
 	unsigned long before;
 	const bool forks = argc > 0;
+	bool draining = false;
 	char sbuf[STRERR_BUFSIZE];
 
 	trace->live = true;
@@ -2171,8 +2172,12 @@ next_event:
 	if (trace->nr_events == before) {
 		int timeout = done ? 100 : -1;
 
-		if (poll(evlist->pollfd, evlist->nr_fds, timeout) > 0)
+		if (!draining && perf_evlist__poll(evlist, timeout) > 0) {
+			if (perf_evlist__filter_pollfd(evlist, POLLERR | POLLHUP) == 0)
+				draining = true;
+
 			goto again;
+		}
 	} else {
 		goto again;
 	}
diff --git a/tools/perf/tests/builtin-test.c b/tools/perf/tests/builtin-test.c
index 6a4145e5ad2c..ac655b0700e7 100644
--- a/tools/perf/tests/builtin-test.c
+++ b/tools/perf/tests/builtin-test.c
@@ -157,6 +157,14 @@ static struct test {
 		.desc = "Test tracking with sched_switch",
 		.func = test__switch_tracking,
 	},
+	{
+		.desc = "Filter fds with revents mask in a fdarray",
+		.func = test__fdarray__filter,
+	},
+	{
+		.desc = "Add fd to a fdarray, making it autogrow",
+		.func = test__fdarray__add,
+	},
 	{
 		.func = NULL,
 	},
diff --git a/tools/perf/tests/fdarray.c b/tools/perf/tests/fdarray.c
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..d24b837951d4
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tools/perf/tests/fdarray.c
@@ -0,0 +1,174 @@
+#include <api/fd/array.h>
+#include "util/debug.h"
+#include "tests/tests.h"
+
+static void fdarray__init_revents(struct fdarray *fda, short revents)
+{
+	int fd;
+
+	fda->nr = fda->nr_alloc;
+
+	for (fd = 0; fd < fda->nr; ++fd) {
+		fda->entries[fd].fd	 = fda->nr - fd;
+		fda->entries[fd].revents = revents;
+	}
+}
+
+static int fdarray__fprintf_prefix(struct fdarray *fda, const char *prefix, FILE *fp)
+{
+	int printed = 0;
+
+	if (!verbose)
+		return 0;
+
+	printed += fprintf(fp, "\n%s: ", prefix);
+	return printed + fdarray__fprintf(fda, fp);
+}
+
+int test__fdarray__filter(void)
+{
+	int nr_fds, expected_fd[2], fd, err = TEST_FAIL;
+	struct fdarray *fda = fdarray__new(5, 5);
+
+	if (fda == NULL) {
+		pr_debug("\nfdarray__new() failed!");
+		goto out;
+	}
+
+	fdarray__init_revents(fda, POLLIN);
+	nr_fds = fdarray__filter(fda, POLLHUP, NULL);
+	if (nr_fds != fda->nr_alloc) {
+		pr_debug("\nfdarray__filter()=%d != %d shouldn't have filtered anything",
+			 nr_fds, fda->nr_alloc);
+		goto out_delete;
+	}
+
+	fdarray__init_revents(fda, POLLHUP);
+	nr_fds = fdarray__filter(fda, POLLHUP, NULL);
+	if (nr_fds != 0) {
+		pr_debug("\nfdarray__filter()=%d != %d, should have filtered all fds",
+			 nr_fds, fda->nr_alloc);
+		goto out_delete;
+	}
+
+	fdarray__init_revents(fda, POLLHUP);
+	fda->entries[2].revents = POLLIN;
+	expected_fd[0] = fda->entries[2].fd;
+
+	pr_debug("\nfiltering all but fda->entries[2]:");
+	fdarray__fprintf_prefix(fda, "before", stderr);
+	nr_fds = fdarray__filter(fda, POLLHUP, NULL);
+	fdarray__fprintf_prefix(fda, " after", stderr);
+	if (nr_fds != 1) {
+		pr_debug("\nfdarray__filter()=%d != 1, should have left just one event", nr_fds);
+		goto out_delete;
+	}
+
+	if (fda->entries[0].fd != expected_fd[0]) {
+		pr_debug("\nfda->entries[0].fd=%d != %d\n",
+			 fda->entries[0].fd, expected_fd[0]);
+		goto out_delete;
+	}
+
+	fdarray__init_revents(fda, POLLHUP);
+	fda->entries[0].revents = POLLIN;
+	expected_fd[0] = fda->entries[0].fd;
+	fda->entries[3].revents = POLLIN;
+	expected_fd[1] = fda->entries[3].fd;
+
+	pr_debug("\nfiltering all but (fda->entries[0], fda->entries[3]):");
+	fdarray__fprintf_prefix(fda, "before", stderr);
+	nr_fds = fdarray__filter(fda, POLLHUP, NULL);
+	fdarray__fprintf_prefix(fda, " after", stderr);
+	if (nr_fds != 2) {
+		pr_debug("\nfdarray__filter()=%d != 2, should have left just two events",
+			 nr_fds);
+		goto out_delete;
+	}
+
+	for (fd = 0; fd < 2; ++fd) {
+		if (fda->entries[fd].fd != expected_fd[fd]) {
+			pr_debug("\nfda->entries[%d].fd=%d != %d\n", fd,
+				 fda->entries[fd].fd, expected_fd[fd]);
+			goto out_delete;
+		}
+	}
+
+	pr_debug("\n");
+
+	err = 0;
+out_delete:
+	fdarray__delete(fda);
+out:
+	return err;
+}
+
+int test__fdarray__add(void)
+{
+	int err = TEST_FAIL;
+	struct fdarray *fda = fdarray__new(2, 2);
+
+	if (fda == NULL) {
+		pr_debug("\nfdarray__new() failed!");
+		goto out;
+	}
+
+#define FDA_CHECK(_idx, _fd, _revents)					   \
+	if (fda->entries[_idx].fd != _fd) {				   \
+		pr_debug("\n%d: fda->entries[%d](%d) != %d!",		   \
+			 __LINE__, _idx, fda->entries[1].fd, _fd);	   \
+		goto out_delete;					   \
+	}								   \
+	if (fda->entries[_idx].events != (_revents)) {			   \
+		pr_debug("\n%d: fda->entries[%d].revents(%d) != %d!",	   \
+			 __LINE__, _idx, fda->entries[_idx].fd, _revents); \
+		goto out_delete;					   \
+	}
+
+#define FDA_ADD(_idx, _fd, _revents, _nr)				   \
+	if (fdarray__add(fda, _fd, _revents) < 0) {			   \
+		pr_debug("\n%d: fdarray__add(fda, %d, %d) failed!",	   \
+			 __LINE__,_fd, _revents);			   \
+		goto out_delete;					   \
+	}								   \
+	if (fda->nr != _nr) {						   \
+		pr_debug("\n%d: fdarray__add(fda, %d, %d)=%d != %d",	   \
+			 __LINE__,_fd, _revents, fda->nr, _nr);		   \
+		goto out_delete;					   \
+	}								   \
+	FDA_CHECK(_idx, _fd, _revents)
+
+	FDA_ADD(0, 1, POLLIN, 1);
+	FDA_ADD(1, 2, POLLERR, 2);
+
+	fdarray__fprintf_prefix(fda, "before growing array", stderr);
+
+	FDA_ADD(2, 35, POLLHUP, 3);
+
+	if (fda->entries == NULL) {
+		pr_debug("\nfdarray__add(fda, 35, POLLHUP) should have allocated fda->pollfd!");
+		goto out_delete;
+	}
+
+	fdarray__fprintf_prefix(fda, "after 3rd add", stderr);
+
+	FDA_ADD(3, 88, POLLIN | POLLOUT, 4);
+
+	fdarray__fprintf_prefix(fda, "after 4th add", stderr);
+
+	FDA_CHECK(0, 1, POLLIN);
+	FDA_CHECK(1, 2, POLLERR);
+	FDA_CHECK(2, 35, POLLHUP);
+	FDA_CHECK(3, 88, POLLIN | POLLOUT);
+
+#undef FDA_ADD
+#undef FDA_CHECK
+
+	pr_debug("\n");
+
+	err = 0;
+out_delete:
+	fdarray__delete(fda);
+out:
+	return err;
+}
diff --git a/tools/perf/tests/open-syscall-tp-fields.c b/tools/perf/tests/open-syscall-tp-fields.c
index 922bdb627950..127dcae0b760 100644
--- a/tools/perf/tests/open-syscall-tp-fields.c
+++ b/tools/perf/tests/open-syscall-tp-fields.c
@@ -105,7 +105,7 @@ int test__syscall_open_tp_fields(void)
 		}
 
 		if (nr_events == before)
-			poll(evlist->pollfd, evlist->nr_fds, 10);
+			perf_evlist__poll(evlist, 10);
 
 		if (++nr_polls > 5) {
 			pr_debug("%s: no events!\n", __func__);
diff --git a/tools/perf/tests/perf-record.c b/tools/perf/tests/perf-record.c
index 2ce753c1db63..7a228a2a070b 100644
--- a/tools/perf/tests/perf-record.c
+++ b/tools/perf/tests/perf-record.c
@@ -268,7 +268,7 @@ int test__PERF_RECORD(void)
 		 * perf_event_attr.wakeup_events, just PERF_EVENT_SAMPLE does.
 		 */
 		if (total_events == before && false)
-			poll(evlist->pollfd, evlist->nr_fds, -1);
+			perf_evlist__poll(evlist, -1);
 
 		sleep(1);
 		if (++wakeups > 5) {
diff --git a/tools/perf/tests/task-exit.c b/tools/perf/tests/task-exit.c
index 87522f01c7ad..3a8fedef83bc 100644
--- a/tools/perf/tests/task-exit.c
+++ b/tools/perf/tests/task-exit.c
@@ -105,7 +105,7 @@ retry:
 	}
 
 	if (!exited || !nr_exit) {
-		poll(evlist->pollfd, evlist->nr_fds, -1);
+		perf_evlist__poll(evlist, -1);
 		goto retry;
 	}
 
diff --git a/tools/perf/tests/tests.h b/tools/perf/tests/tests.h
index be8be10e3957..00e776a87a9c 100644
--- a/tools/perf/tests/tests.h
+++ b/tools/perf/tests/tests.h
@@ -49,6 +49,8 @@ int test__thread_mg_share(void);
 int test__hists_output(void);
 int test__hists_cumulate(void);
 int test__switch_tracking(void);
+int test__fdarray__filter(void);
+int test__fdarray__add(void);
 
 #if defined(__x86_64__) || defined(__i386__) || defined(__arm__)
 #ifdef HAVE_DWARF_UNWIND_SUPPORT
diff --git a/tools/perf/util/evlist.c b/tools/perf/util/evlist.c
index a3e28b49128a..3cebc9a8d52e 100644
--- a/tools/perf/util/evlist.c
+++ b/tools/perf/util/evlist.c
@@ -25,6 +25,9 @@
 #include <linux/bitops.h>
 #include <linux/hash.h>
 
+static void perf_evlist__mmap_put(struct perf_evlist *evlist, int idx);
+static void __perf_evlist__munmap(struct perf_evlist *evlist, int idx);
+
 #define FD(e, x, y) (*(int *)xyarray__entry(e->fd, x, y))
 #define SID(e, x, y) xyarray__entry(e->sample_id, x, y)
 
@@ -37,6 +40,7 @@ void perf_evlist__init(struct perf_evlist *evlist, struct cpu_map *cpus,
 		INIT_HLIST_HEAD(&evlist->heads[i]);
 	INIT_LIST_HEAD(&evlist->entries);
 	perf_evlist__set_maps(evlist, cpus, threads);
+	fdarray__init(&evlist->pollfd, 64);
 	evlist->workload.pid = -1;
 }
 
@@ -102,7 +106,7 @@ static void perf_evlist__purge(struct perf_evlist *evlist)
 void perf_evlist__exit(struct perf_evlist *evlist)
 {
 	zfree(&evlist->mmap);
-	zfree(&evlist->pollfd);
+	fdarray__exit(&evlist->pollfd);
 }
 
 void perf_evlist__delete(struct perf_evlist *evlist)
@@ -402,7 +406,7 @@ int perf_evlist__enable_event_idx(struct perf_evlist *evlist,
 		return perf_evlist__enable_event_thread(evlist, evsel, idx);
 }
 
-static int perf_evlist__alloc_pollfd(struct perf_evlist *evlist)
+int perf_evlist__alloc_pollfd(struct perf_evlist *evlist)
 {
 	int nr_cpus = cpu_map__nr(evlist->cpus);
 	int nr_threads = thread_map__nr(evlist->threads);
@@ -416,16 +420,50 @@ static int perf_evlist__alloc_pollfd(struct perf_evlist *evlist)
 			nfds += nr_cpus * nr_threads;
 	}
 
-	evlist->pollfd = malloc(sizeof(struct pollfd) * nfds);
-	return evlist->pollfd != NULL ? 0 : -ENOMEM;
+	if (fdarray__available_entries(&evlist->pollfd) < nfds &&
+	    fdarray__grow(&evlist->pollfd, nfds) < 0)
+		return -ENOMEM;
+
+	return 0;
 }
 
-void perf_evlist__add_pollfd(struct perf_evlist *evlist, int fd)
+static int __perf_evlist__add_pollfd(struct perf_evlist *evlist, int fd, int idx)
 {
-	fcntl(fd, F_SETFL, O_NONBLOCK);
-	evlist->pollfd[evlist->nr_fds].fd = fd;
-	evlist->pollfd[evlist->nr_fds].events = POLLIN;
-	evlist->nr_fds++;
+	int pos = fdarray__add(&evlist->pollfd, fd, POLLIN | POLLERR | POLLHUP);
+	/*
+	 * Save the idx so that when we filter out fds POLLHUP'ed we can
+	 * close the associated evlist->mmap[] entry.
+	 */
+	if (pos >= 0) {
+		evlist->pollfd.priv[pos].idx = idx;
+
+		fcntl(fd, F_SETFL, O_NONBLOCK);
+	}
+
+	return pos;
+}
+
+int perf_evlist__add_pollfd(struct perf_evlist *evlist, int fd)
+{
+	return __perf_evlist__add_pollfd(evlist, fd, -1);
+}
+
+static void perf_evlist__munmap_filtered(struct fdarray *fda, int fd)
+{
+	struct perf_evlist *evlist = container_of(fda, struct perf_evlist, pollfd);
+
+	perf_evlist__mmap_put(evlist, fda->priv[fd].idx);
+}
+
+int perf_evlist__filter_pollfd(struct perf_evlist *evlist, short revents_and_mask)
+{
+	return fdarray__filter(&evlist->pollfd, revents_and_mask,
+			       perf_evlist__munmap_filtered);
+}
+
+int perf_evlist__poll(struct perf_evlist *evlist, int timeout)
+{
+	return fdarray__poll(&evlist->pollfd, timeout);
 }
 
 static void perf_evlist__id_hash(struct perf_evlist *evlist,
@@ -638,14 +676,36 @@ union perf_event *perf_evlist__mmap_read(struct perf_evlist *evlist, int idx)
 	return event;
 }
 
+static bool perf_mmap__empty(struct perf_mmap *md)
+{
+	return perf_mmap__read_head(md) != md->prev;
+}
+
+static void perf_evlist__mmap_get(struct perf_evlist *evlist, int idx)
+{
+	++evlist->mmap[idx].refcnt;
+}
+
+static void perf_evlist__mmap_put(struct perf_evlist *evlist, int idx)
+{
+	BUG_ON(evlist->mmap[idx].refcnt == 0);
+
+	if (--evlist->mmap[idx].refcnt == 0)
+		__perf_evlist__munmap(evlist, idx);
+}
+
 void perf_evlist__mmap_consume(struct perf_evlist *evlist, int idx)
 {
+	struct perf_mmap *md = &evlist->mmap[idx];
+
 	if (!evlist->overwrite) {
-		struct perf_mmap *md = &evlist->mmap[idx];
 		unsigned int old = md->prev;
 
 		perf_mmap__write_tail(md, old);
 	}
+
+	if (md->refcnt == 1 && perf_mmap__empty(md))
+		perf_evlist__mmap_put(evlist, idx);
 }
 
 static void __perf_evlist__munmap(struct perf_evlist *evlist, int idx)
@@ -653,6 +713,7 @@ static void __perf_evlist__munmap(struct perf_evlist *evlist, int idx)
 	if (evlist->mmap[idx].base != NULL) {
 		munmap(evlist->mmap[idx].base, evlist->mmap_len);
 		evlist->mmap[idx].base = NULL;
+		evlist->mmap[idx].refcnt = 0;
 	}
 }
 
@@ -686,6 +747,20 @@ struct mmap_params {
 static int __perf_evlist__mmap(struct perf_evlist *evlist, int idx,
 			       struct mmap_params *mp, int fd)
 {
+	/*
+	 * The last one will be done at perf_evlist__mmap_consume(), so that we
+	 * make sure we don't prevent tools from consuming every last event in
+	 * the ring buffer.
+	 *
+	 * I.e. we can get the POLLHUP meaning that the fd doesn't exist
+	 * anymore, but the last events for it are still in the ring buffer,
+	 * waiting to be consumed.
+	 *
+	 * Tools can chose to ignore this at their own discretion, but the
+	 * evlist layer can't just drop it when filtering events in
+	 * perf_evlist__filter_pollfd().
+	 */
+	evlist->mmap[idx].refcnt = 2;
 	evlist->mmap[idx].prev = 0;
 	evlist->mmap[idx].mask = mp->mask;
 	evlist->mmap[idx].base = mmap(NULL, evlist->mmap_len, mp->prot,
@@ -697,7 +772,6 @@ static int __perf_evlist__mmap(struct perf_evlist *evlist, int idx,
 		return -1;
 	}
 
-	perf_evlist__add_pollfd(evlist, fd);
 	return 0;
 }
 
@@ -722,6 +796,13 @@ static int perf_evlist__mmap_per_evsel(struct perf_evlist *evlist, int idx,
 		} else {
 			if (ioctl(fd, PERF_EVENT_IOC_SET_OUTPUT, *output) != 0)
 				return -1;
+
+			perf_evlist__mmap_get(evlist, idx);
+		}
+
+		if (__perf_evlist__add_pollfd(evlist, fd, idx) < 0) {
+			perf_evlist__mmap_put(evlist, idx);
+			return -1;
 		}
 
 		if ((evsel->attr.read_format & PERF_FORMAT_ID) &&
@@ -881,7 +962,7 @@ int perf_evlist__mmap(struct perf_evlist *evlist, unsigned int pages,
 	if (evlist->mmap == NULL && perf_evlist__alloc_mmap(evlist) < 0)
 		return -ENOMEM;
 
-	if (evlist->pollfd == NULL && perf_evlist__alloc_pollfd(evlist) < 0)
+	if (evlist->pollfd.entries == NULL && perf_evlist__alloc_pollfd(evlist) < 0)
 		return -ENOMEM;
 
 	evlist->overwrite = overwrite;
diff --git a/tools/perf/util/evlist.h b/tools/perf/util/evlist.h
index 106de53a6a74..bd312b01e876 100644
--- a/tools/perf/util/evlist.h
+++ b/tools/perf/util/evlist.h
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@
 #define __PERF_EVLIST_H 1
 
 #include <linux/list.h>
+#include <api/fd/array.h>
 #include <stdio.h>
 #include "../perf.h"
 #include "event.h"
@@ -17,9 +18,15 @@ struct record_opts;
 #define PERF_EVLIST__HLIST_BITS 8
 #define PERF_EVLIST__HLIST_SIZE (1 << PERF_EVLIST__HLIST_BITS)
 
+/**
+ * struct perf_mmap - perf's ring buffer mmap details
+ *
+ * @refcnt - e.g. code using PERF_EVENT_IOC_SET_OUTPUT to share this
+ */
 struct perf_mmap {
 	void		 *base;
 	int		 mask;
+	int		 refcnt;
 	unsigned int	 prev;
 	char		 event_copy[PERF_SAMPLE_MAX_SIZE];
 };
@@ -29,7 +36,6 @@ struct perf_evlist {
 	struct hlist_head heads[PERF_EVLIST__HLIST_SIZE];
 	int		 nr_entries;
 	int		 nr_groups;
-	int		 nr_fds;
 	int		 nr_mmaps;
 	size_t		 mmap_len;
 	int		 id_pos;
@@ -40,8 +46,8 @@ struct perf_evlist {
 		pid_t	pid;
 	} workload;
 	bool		 overwrite;
+	struct fdarray	 pollfd;
 	struct perf_mmap *mmap;
-	struct pollfd	 *pollfd;
 	struct thread_map *threads;
 	struct cpu_map	  *cpus;
 	struct perf_evsel *selected;
@@ -82,7 +88,11 @@ perf_evlist__find_tracepoint_by_name(struct perf_evlist *evlist,
 void perf_evlist__id_add(struct perf_evlist *evlist, struct perf_evsel *evsel,
 			 int cpu, int thread, u64 id);
 
-void perf_evlist__add_pollfd(struct perf_evlist *evlist, int fd);
+int perf_evlist__add_pollfd(struct perf_evlist *evlist, int fd);
+int perf_evlist__alloc_pollfd(struct perf_evlist *evlist);
+int perf_evlist__filter_pollfd(struct perf_evlist *evlist, short revents_and_mask);
+
+int perf_evlist__poll(struct perf_evlist *evlist, int timeout);
 
 struct perf_evsel *perf_evlist__id2evsel(struct perf_evlist *evlist, u64 id);
 
diff --git a/tools/perf/util/python.c b/tools/perf/util/python.c
index 12aa9b0d0ba1..3dda85ca50c1 100644
--- a/tools/perf/util/python.c
+++ b/tools/perf/util/python.c
@@ -736,7 +736,7 @@ static PyObject *pyrf_evlist__poll(struct pyrf_evlist *pevlist,
 	if (!PyArg_ParseTupleAndKeywords(args, kwargs, "|i", kwlist, &timeout))
 		return NULL;
 
-	n = poll(evlist->pollfd, evlist->nr_fds, timeout);
+	n = perf_evlist__poll(evlist, timeout);
 	if (n < 0) {
 		PyErr_SetFromErrno(PyExc_OSError);
 		return NULL;
@@ -753,9 +753,9 @@ static PyObject *pyrf_evlist__get_pollfd(struct pyrf_evlist *pevlist,
         PyObject *list = PyList_New(0);
 	int i;
 
-	for (i = 0; i < evlist->nr_fds; ++i) {
+	for (i = 0; i < evlist->pollfd.nr; ++i) {
 		PyObject *file;
-		FILE *fp = fdopen(evlist->pollfd[i].fd, "r");
+		FILE *fp = fdopen(evlist->pollfd.entries[i].fd, "r");
 
 		if (fp == NULL)
 			goto free_list;