diff --git a/tools/perf/builtin-top.c b/tools/perf/builtin-top.c
index 1f8c97d..be1698f 100644
--- a/tools/perf/builtin-top.c
+++ b/tools/perf/builtin-top.c
@@ -551,10 +551,6 @@
 	if (fd[i][counter] < 0) {
 		int err = errno;
 
-		if (verbose)
-			error("sys_perf_counter_open() syscall returned with %d (%s)\n",
-				fd[i][counter], strerror(err));
-
 		if (err == EPERM)
 			die("No permission - are you root?\n");
 		/*
@@ -572,6 +568,10 @@
 			attr->config = PERF_COUNT_CPU_CLOCK;
 			goto try_again;
 		}
+		printf("\n");
+		error("perfcounter syscall returned with %d (%s)\n",
+			fd[i][counter], strerror(err));
+		die("No CONFIG_PERF_COUNTERS=y kernel support configured?\n");
 		exit(-1);
 	}
 	assert(fd[i][counter] >= 0);