diff --git a/tools/perf/util/evsel.c b/tools/perf/util/evsel.c
index 5285da0417c5..ddf84b941abf 100644
--- a/tools/perf/util/evsel.c
+++ b/tools/perf/util/evsel.c
@@ -859,6 +859,12 @@ static void apply_config_terms(struct perf_evsel *evsel,
 	}
 }
 
+static bool is_dummy_event(struct perf_evsel *evsel)
+{
+	return (evsel->attr.type == PERF_TYPE_SOFTWARE) &&
+	       (evsel->attr.config == PERF_COUNT_SW_DUMMY);
+}
+
 /*
  * The enable_on_exec/disabled value strategy:
  *
@@ -1097,6 +1103,14 @@ void perf_evsel__config(struct perf_evsel *evsel, struct record_opts *opts,
 		else
 			perf_evsel__reset_sample_bit(evsel, PERIOD);
 	}
+
+	/*
+	 * For initial_delay, a dummy event is added implicitly.
+	 * The software event will trigger -EOPNOTSUPP error out,
+	 * if BRANCH_STACK bit is set.
+	 */
+	if (opts->initial_delay && is_dummy_event(evsel))
+		perf_evsel__reset_sample_bit(evsel, BRANCH_STACK);
 }
 
 static int perf_evsel__alloc_fd(struct perf_evsel *evsel, int ncpus, int nthreads)