diff --git a/tools/perf/util/evsel.c b/tools/perf/util/evsel.c
index 667f3b78bb2c..7132ee834e0e 100644
--- a/tools/perf/util/evsel.c
+++ b/tools/perf/util/evsel.c
@@ -463,6 +463,7 @@ int perf_event__parse_sample(const union perf_event *event, u64 type,
 	memset(data, 0, sizeof(*data));
 	data->cpu = data->pid = data->tid = -1;
 	data->stream_id = data->id = data->time = -1ULL;
+	data->period = 1;
 
 	if (event->header.type != PERF_RECORD_SAMPLE) {
 		if (!sample_id_all)