diff --git a/tools/perf/util/usage.c b/tools/perf/util/usage.c
index 0a1a885a5914..228f0a558872 100644
--- a/tools/perf/util/usage.c
+++ b/tools/perf/util/usage.c
@@ -132,4 +132,18 @@ void perf_target__validate(struct perf_target *target)
 		sleep(1);
 		target->uid_str = NULL;
 	}
+
+	/* UID and CPU are mutually exclusive */
+	if (target->uid_str && target->cpu_list) {
+		ui__warning("UID switch overriding CPU\n");
+		sleep(1);
+		target->cpu_list = NULL;
+	}
+
+	/* PID/UID and SYSTEM are mutually exclusive */
+	if ((target->tid || target->uid_str) && target->system_wide) {
+		ui__warning("PID/TID/UID switch overriding CPU\n");
+		sleep(1);
+		target->system_wide = false;
+	}
 }