diff --git a/tools/perf/util/evlist.c b/tools/perf/util/evlist.c
index eddd5ebcd690..ecf123e080bb 100644
--- a/tools/perf/util/evlist.c
+++ b/tools/perf/util/evlist.c
@@ -122,8 +122,7 @@ void __perf_evlist__set_leader(struct list_head *list)
 	leader->nr_members = evsel->idx - leader->idx + 1;
 
 	list_for_each_entry(evsel, list, node) {
-		if (evsel != leader)
-			evsel->leader = leader;
+		evsel->leader = leader;
 	}
 }