diff --git a/tools/perf/util/record.c b/tools/perf/util/record.c
index a4cc11592f6b..ea9aa1d7cf50 100644
--- a/tools/perf/util/record.c
+++ b/tools/perf/util/record.c
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@
 #include "debug.h"
 #include "evlist.h"
 #include "evsel.h"
+#include "evsel_config.h"
 #include "parse-events.h"
 #include <errno.h>
 #include <limits.h>
@@ -33,11 +34,24 @@ static struct evsel *evsel__read_sampler(struct evsel *evsel, struct evlist *evl
 	return leader;
 }
 
+static u64 evsel__config_term_mask(struct evsel *evsel)
+{
+	struct evsel_config_term *term;
+	struct list_head *config_terms = &evsel->config_terms;
+	u64 term_types = 0;
+
+	list_for_each_entry(term, config_terms, list) {
+		term_types |= 1 << term->type;
+	}
+	return term_types;
+}
+
 static void evsel__config_leader_sampling(struct evsel *evsel, struct evlist *evlist)
 {
 	struct perf_event_attr *attr = &evsel->core.attr;
 	struct evsel *leader = evsel->leader;
 	struct evsel *read_sampler;
+	u64 term_types, freq_mask;
 
 	if (!leader->sample_read)
 		return;
@@ -47,16 +61,20 @@ static void evsel__config_leader_sampling(struct evsel *evsel, struct evlist *ev
 	if (evsel == read_sampler)
 		return;
 
+	term_types = evsel__config_term_mask(evsel);
 	/*
-	 * Disable sampling for all group members other than the leader in
-	 * case the leader 'leads' the sampling, except when the leader is an
-	 * AUX area event, in which case the 2nd event in the group is the one
-	 * that 'leads' the sampling.
+	 * Disable sampling for all group members except those with explicit
+	 * config terms or the leader. In the case of an AUX area event, the 2nd
+	 * event in the group is the one that 'leads' the sampling.
 	 */
-	attr->freq           = 0;
-	attr->sample_freq    = 0;
-	attr->sample_period  = 0;
-	attr->write_backward = 0;
+	freq_mask = (1 << EVSEL__CONFIG_TERM_FREQ) | (1 << EVSEL__CONFIG_TERM_PERIOD);
+	if ((term_types & freq_mask) == 0) {
+		attr->freq           = 0;
+		attr->sample_freq    = 0;
+		attr->sample_period  = 0;
+	}
+	if ((term_types & (1 << EVSEL__CONFIG_TERM_OVERWRITE)) == 0)
+		attr->write_backward = 0;
 
 	/*
 	 * We don't get a sample for slave events, we make them when delivering