diff --git a/arch/arm/src/goldfish/goldfish_boot.c b/arch/arm/src/goldfish/goldfish_boot.c
index fdc34234dc7..b8247c6f4e6 100644
--- a/arch/arm/src/goldfish/goldfish_boot.c
+++ b/arch/arm/src/goldfish/goldfish_boot.c
@@ -50,9 +50,11 @@
 
 void arm_boot(void)
 {
+#ifdef CONFIG_ARCH_PERF_EVENTS
   /* Perf init */
 
   up_perf_init(0);
+#endif
 
   /* Set the page table for section */
 
diff --git a/arch/arm/src/qemu/qemu_boot.c b/arch/arm/src/qemu/qemu_boot.c
index 027fb8392ed..82f4a8e9305 100644
--- a/arch/arm/src/qemu/qemu_boot.c
+++ b/arch/arm/src/qemu/qemu_boot.c
@@ -60,9 +60,11 @@ static char g_syslog_rpmsg_buf[4096];
 
 void arm_boot(void)
 {
+#ifdef CONFIG_ARCH_PERF_EVENTS
   /* Perf init */
 
   up_perf_init(0);
+#endif
 
   /* Set the page table for section */