diff --git a/tools/perf/util/strlist.c b/tools/perf/util/strlist.c
index bdf98f6f27bb..0d3dfcb919b4 100644
--- a/tools/perf/util/strlist.c
+++ b/tools/perf/util/strlist.c
@@ -126,6 +126,11 @@ static int strlist__parse_list_entry(struct strlist *slist, const char *s,
 			err = strlist__load(slist, subst);
 			goto out;
 		}
+
+		if (slist->file_only) {
+			err = -ENOENT;
+			goto out;
+		}
 	}
 
 	err = strlist__add(slist, s);
@@ -157,11 +162,13 @@ struct strlist *strlist__new(const char *list, const struct strlist_config *conf
 
 	if (slist != NULL) {
 		bool dupstr = true;
+		bool file_only = false;
 		const char *dirname = NULL;
 
 		if (config) {
 			dupstr = !config->dont_dupstr;
 			dirname = config->dirname;
+			file_only = config->file_only;
 		}
 
 		rblist__init(&slist->rblist);
@@ -170,6 +177,7 @@ struct strlist *strlist__new(const char *list, const struct strlist_config *conf
 		slist->rblist.node_delete = strlist__node_delete;
 
 		slist->dupstr	 = dupstr;
+		slist->file_only = file_only;
 
 		if (list && strlist__parse_list(slist, list, dirname) != 0)
 			goto out_error;
diff --git a/tools/perf/util/strlist.h b/tools/perf/util/strlist.h
index 297565aa7535..ca990029e243 100644
--- a/tools/perf/util/strlist.h
+++ b/tools/perf/util/strlist.h
@@ -13,11 +13,18 @@ struct str_node {
 
 struct strlist {
 	struct rblist rblist;
-	bool	       dupstr;
+	bool	      dupstr;
+	bool	      file_only;
 };
 
+/*
+ * @file_only: When dirname is present, only consider entries as filenames,
+ *             that should not be added to the list if dirname/entry is not
+ *             found
+ */
 struct strlist_config {
 	bool dont_dupstr;
+	bool file_only;
 	const char *dirname;
 };