diff --git a/tools/perf/util/cs-etm-decoder/cs-etm-decoder.h b/tools/perf/util/cs-etm-decoder/cs-etm-decoder.h
index 743f5f444304..612b5755f742 100644
--- a/tools/perf/util/cs-etm-decoder/cs-etm-decoder.h
+++ b/tools/perf/util/cs-etm-decoder/cs-etm-decoder.h
@@ -23,6 +23,7 @@ struct cs_etm_buffer {
 };
 
 enum cs_etm_sample_type {
+	CS_ETM_EMPTY = 0,
 	CS_ETM_RANGE = 1 << 0,
 	CS_ETM_TRACE_ON = 1 << 1,
 };
diff --git a/tools/perf/util/cs-etm.c b/tools/perf/util/cs-etm.c
index 8b2c099e750a..ae7c9c880cb2 100644
--- a/tools/perf/util/cs-etm.c
+++ b/tools/perf/util/cs-etm.c
@@ -924,8 +924,14 @@ static int cs_etm__flush(struct cs_etm_queue *etmq)
 	int err = 0;
 	struct cs_etm_packet *tmp;
 
+	if (!etmq->prev_packet)
+		return 0;
+
+	/* Handle start tracing packet */
+	if (etmq->prev_packet->sample_type == CS_ETM_EMPTY)
+		goto swap_packet;
+
 	if (etmq->etm->synth_opts.last_branch &&
-	    etmq->prev_packet &&
 	    etmq->prev_packet->sample_type == CS_ETM_RANGE) {
 		/*
 		 * Generate a last branch event for the branches left in the
@@ -944,6 +950,10 @@ static int cs_etm__flush(struct cs_etm_queue *etmq)
 
 		etmq->period_instructions = 0;
 
+	}
+
+swap_packet:
+	if (etmq->etm->synth_opts.last_branch) {
 		/*
 		 * Swap PACKET with PREV_PACKET: PACKET becomes PREV_PACKET for
 		 * the next incoming packet.
@@ -1023,6 +1033,13 @@ static int cs_etm__run_decoder(struct cs_etm_queue *etmq)
 					 */
 					cs_etm__flush(etmq);
 					break;
+				case CS_ETM_EMPTY:
+					/*
+					 * Should not receive empty packet,
+					 * report error.
+					 */
+					pr_err("CS ETM Trace: empty packet\n");
+					return -EINVAL;
 				default:
 					break;
 				}