diff --git a/tools/perf/util/pmu.c b/tools/perf/util/pmu.c
index 64fa568a5426..8d5ecd4ff1a9 100644
--- a/tools/perf/util/pmu.c
+++ b/tools/perf/util/pmu.c
@@ -1427,7 +1427,7 @@ bool perf_pmu__supports_legacy_cache(const struct perf_pmu *pmu)
 
 bool perf_pmu__auto_merge_stats(const struct perf_pmu *pmu)
 {
-	return pmu->is_core && perf_pmus__num_core_pmus() == 1;
+	return !pmu->is_core || perf_pmus__num_core_pmus() == 1;
 }
 
 bool perf_pmu__have_event(const struct perf_pmu *pmu, const char *name)