diff --git a/tools/perf/config/Makefile b/tools/perf/config/Makefile
index 214e17e97e5c..346ee929d250 100644
--- a/tools/perf/config/Makefile
+++ b/tools/perf/config/Makefile
@@ -180,6 +180,9 @@ FLAGS_LIBELF=$(CFLAGS) $(LDFLAGS) $(EXTLIBS)
 ifeq ($(call try-cc,$(SOURCE_ELF_MMAP),$(FLAGS_LIBELF),-DLIBELF_MMAP),y)
   CFLAGS += -DLIBELF_MMAP
 endif
+ifeq ($(call try-cc,$(SOURCE_ELF_GETPHDRNUM),$(FLAGS_LIBELF),-DHAVE_ELF_GETPHDRNUM),y)
+  CFLAGS += -DHAVE_ELF_GETPHDRNUM
+endif
 
 # include ARCH specific config
 -include $(src-perf)/arch/$(ARCH)/Makefile
diff --git a/tools/perf/config/feature-tests.mak b/tools/perf/config/feature-tests.mak
index 7f550c15b446..d5a8dd44945f 100644
--- a/tools/perf/config/feature-tests.mak
+++ b/tools/perf/config/feature-tests.mak
@@ -61,6 +61,15 @@ int main(void)
 }
 endef
 
+define SOURCE_ELF_GETPHDRNUM
+#include <libelf.h>
+int main(void)
+{
+	size_t dst;
+	return elf_getphdrnum(0, &dst);
+}
+endef
+
 ifndef NO_SLANG
 define SOURCE_SLANG
 #include <slang.h>
diff --git a/tools/perf/util/symbol-elf.c b/tools/perf/util/symbol-elf.c
index a7b9ab557380..a9c829be5216 100644
--- a/tools/perf/util/symbol-elf.c
+++ b/tools/perf/util/symbol-elf.c
@@ -8,6 +8,22 @@
 #include "symbol.h"
 #include "debug.h"
 
+#ifndef HAVE_ELF_GETPHDRNUM
+static int elf_getphdrnum(Elf *elf, size_t *dst)
+{
+	GElf_Ehdr gehdr;
+	GElf_Ehdr *ehdr;
+
+	ehdr = gelf_getehdr(elf, &gehdr);
+	if (!ehdr)
+		return -1;
+
+	*dst = ehdr->e_phnum;
+
+	return 0;
+}
+#endif
+
 #ifndef NT_GNU_BUILD_ID
 #define NT_GNU_BUILD_ID 3
 #endif