diff --git a/tools/testing/selftests/bpf/prog_tests/stacktrace_build_id_nmi.c b/tools/testing/selftests/bpf/prog_tests/stacktrace_build_id_nmi.c
index 8974450a4bdb..f002e3090d92 100644
--- a/tools/testing/selftests/bpf/prog_tests/stacktrace_build_id_nmi.c
+++ b/tools/testing/selftests/bpf/prog_tests/stacktrace_build_id_nmi.c
@@ -49,8 +49,12 @@ retry:
 	pmu_fd = syscall(__NR_perf_event_open, &attr, -1 /* pid */,
 			 0 /* cpu 0 */, -1 /* group id */,
 			 0 /* flags */);
-	if (CHECK(pmu_fd < 0, "perf_event_open",
-		  "err %d errno %d. Does the test host support PERF_COUNT_HW_CPU_CYCLES?\n",
+	if (pmu_fd < 0 && errno == ENOENT) {
+		printf("%s:SKIP:no PERF_COUNT_HW_CPU_CYCLES\n", __func__);
+		test__skip();
+		goto cleanup;
+	}
+	if (CHECK(pmu_fd < 0, "perf_event_open", "err %d errno %d\n",
 		  pmu_fd, errno))
 		goto cleanup;