diff --git a/linux/linux.mk b/linux/linux.mk
index 6b5f5344ed..7f4c916671 100644
--- a/linux/linux.mk
+++ b/linux/linux.mk
@@ -292,6 +292,8 @@ define LINUX_KCONFIG_FIXUP_CMDS
 		$(call KCONFIG_ENABLE_OPT,CONFIG_ENABLE_DEFAULT_TRACERS,$(@D)/.config)
 		$(call KCONFIG_ENABLE_OPT,CONFIG_PERF_EVENTS,$(@D)/.config)
 		$(call KCONFIG_ENABLE_OPT,CONFIG_FUNCTION_TRACER,$(@D)/.config))
+	$(if $(BR2_PACKAGE_LINUX_TOOLS_PERF),
+		$(call KCONFIG_ENABLE_OPT,CONFIG_PERF_EVENTS,$(@D)/.config))
 	$(if $(BR2_PACKAGE_SYSTEMD),
 		$(call KCONFIG_ENABLE_OPT,CONFIG_CGROUPS,$(@D)/.config)
 		$(call KCONFIG_ENABLE_OPT,CONFIG_INOTIFY_USER,$(@D)/.config)
diff --git a/package/linux-tools/Config.in b/package/linux-tools/Config.in
index 2527c90257..349dc6bf0d 100644
--- a/package/linux-tools/Config.in
+++ b/package/linux-tools/Config.in
@@ -47,9 +47,11 @@ config BR2_PACKAGE_LINUX_TOOLS_PERF
 	  code), single CPU or severals threads.
 
 	  This will build and install the userspace 'perf'
-	  command. It is up to the user to ensure that the kernel
-	  configuration has all the suitable options enabled to allow a
-	  proper operation of 'perf'.
+	  command.
+
+	  Your kernel must have CONFIG_PERF_EVENTS enabled to use perf
+	  profiling. Buildroot automatically enables this in the kernel
+	  configuration.
 
 	  https://perf.wiki.kernel.org/