diff --git a/tools/perf/tests/attr.c b/tools/perf/tests/attr.c
index 0e77b2cf61ec..08b1d5ce9020 100644
--- a/tools/perf/tests/attr.c
+++ b/tools/perf/tests/attr.c
@@ -136,7 +136,7 @@ void test_attr__open(struct perf_event_attr *attr, pid_t pid, int cpu,
 {
 	int errno_saved = errno;
 
-	if (store_event(attr, pid, cpu, fd, group_fd, flags)) {
+	if ((fd != -1) && store_event(attr, pid, cpu, fd, group_fd, flags)) {
 		pr_err("test attr FAILED");
 		exit(128);
 	}