diff --git a/tools/perf/util/parse-events.c b/tools/perf/util/parse-events.c
index 3a3efcf3e4e9..c0b785b50849 100644
--- a/tools/perf/util/parse-events.c
+++ b/tools/perf/util/parse-events.c
@@ -827,8 +827,6 @@ int parse_events(struct perf_evlist *evlist, const char *str,
 	 * Both call perf_evlist__delete in case of error, so we dont
 	 * need to bother.
 	 */
-	fprintf(stderr, "invalid or unsupported event: '%s'\n", str);
-	fprintf(stderr, "Run 'perf list' for a list of valid events\n");
 	return ret;
 }
 
@@ -836,7 +834,13 @@ int parse_events_option(const struct option *opt, const char *str,
 			int unset __maybe_unused)
 {
 	struct perf_evlist *evlist = *(struct perf_evlist **)opt->value;
-	return parse_events(evlist, str, unset);
+	int ret = parse_events(evlist, str, unset);
+
+	if (ret) {
+		fprintf(stderr, "invalid or unsupported event: '%s'\n", str);
+		fprintf(stderr, "Run 'perf list' for a list of valid events\n");
+	}
+	return ret;
 }
 
 int parse_filter(const struct option *opt, const char *str,