diff --git a/tools/perf/util/evswitch.c b/tools/perf/util/evswitch.c
index 71daed615a2c..3ba72f743d3c 100644
--- a/tools/perf/util/evswitch.c
+++ b/tools/perf/util/evswitch.c
@@ -33,7 +33,9 @@ bool evswitch__discard(struct evswitch *evswitch, struct evsel *evsel)
 
 static int evswitch__fprintf_enoent(FILE *fp, const char *evtype, const char *evname)
 {
-	return fprintf(fp, "ERROR: switch-%s event not found (%s)\n", evtype, evname);
+	int printed = fprintf(fp, "ERROR: switch-%s event not found (%s)\n", evtype, evname);
+
+	return printed += fprintf(fp, "HINT:  use 'perf evlist' to see the available event names\n");
 }
 
 int evswitch__init(struct evswitch *evswitch, struct evlist *evlist, FILE *fp)