diff --git a/arch/s390/kernel/perf_cpum_sf.c b/arch/s390/kernel/perf_cpum_sf.c
index 1c9ddd7aa5ec8f..0292d68e7dded7 100644
--- a/arch/s390/kernel/perf_cpum_sf.c
+++ b/arch/s390/kernel/perf_cpum_sf.c
@@ -753,6 +753,10 @@ static int __hw_perf_event_init(struct perf_event *event)
 	 */
 	rate = 0;
 	if (attr->freq) {
+		if (!attr->sample_freq) {
+			err = -EINVAL;
+			goto out;
+		}
 		rate = freq_to_sample_rate(&si, attr->sample_freq);
 		rate = hw_limit_rate(&si, rate);
 		attr->freq = 0;