diff --git a/tools/perf/util/evsel.c b/tools/perf/util/evsel.c
index f421f7c..0221700 100644
--- a/tools/perf/util/evsel.c
+++ b/tools/perf/util/evsel.c
@@ -63,7 +63,8 @@
 	return evsel;
 }
 
-void perf_evsel__config(struct perf_evsel *evsel, struct perf_record_opts *opts)
+void perf_evsel__config(struct perf_evsel *evsel, struct perf_record_opts *opts,
+			struct perf_evsel *first)
 {
 	struct perf_event_attr *attr = &evsel->attr;
 	int track = !evsel->idx; /* only the first counter needs these */
@@ -134,7 +135,8 @@
 	attr->mmap = track;
 	attr->comm = track;
 
-	if (!opts->target_pid && !opts->target_tid && !opts->system_wide) {
+	if (!opts->target_pid && !opts->target_tid && !opts->system_wide &&
+	    (!opts->group || evsel == first)) {
 		attr->disabled = 1;
 		attr->enable_on_exec = 1;
 	}