diff --git a/tools/perf/util/evsel.c b/tools/perf/util/evsel.c
index 2ffac0a..e9f0832 100644
--- a/tools/perf/util/evsel.c
+++ b/tools/perf/util/evsel.c
@@ -943,9 +943,6 @@ void perf_evsel__config(struct perf_evsel *evsel, struct record_opts *opts,
 	if (target__has_cpu(&opts->target) || opts->sample_cpu)
 		perf_evsel__set_sample_bit(evsel, CPU);
 
-	if (opts->period)
-		perf_evsel__set_sample_bit(evsel, PERIOD);
-
 	/*
 	 * When the user explicitly disabled time don't force it here.
 	 */
@@ -1047,6 +1044,14 @@ void perf_evsel__config(struct perf_evsel *evsel, struct record_opts *opts,
 	apply_config_terms(evsel, opts);
 
 	evsel->ignore_missing_thread = opts->ignore_missing_thread;
+
+	/* The --period option takes the precedence. */
+	if (opts->period_set) {
+		if (opts->period)
+			perf_evsel__set_sample_bit(evsel, PERIOD);
+		else
+			perf_evsel__reset_sample_bit(evsel, PERIOD);
+	}
 }
 
 static int perf_evsel__alloc_fd(struct perf_evsel *evsel, int ncpus, int nthreads)