diff --git a/tools/perf/util/parse-events.c b/tools/perf/util/parse-events.c
index aed38e4b9dfa..75c7b0fca6d9 100644
--- a/tools/perf/util/parse-events.c
+++ b/tools/perf/util/parse-events.c
@@ -690,6 +690,9 @@ static int get_event_modifier(struct event_modifier *mod, char *str,
 			eH = 0;
 		} else if (*str == 'p') {
 			precise++;
+			/* use of precise requires exclude_guest */
+			if (!exclude_GH)
+				eG = 1;
 		} else
 			break;