diff --git a/tools/perf/arch/arm/util/cs-etm.c b/tools/perf/arch/arm/util/cs-etm.c
index cea5e33d61d2..cad7bf783413 100644
--- a/tools/perf/arch/arm/util/cs-etm.c
+++ b/tools/perf/arch/arm/util/cs-etm.c
@@ -243,10 +243,10 @@ static int cs_etm_set_sink_attr(struct perf_pmu *pmu,
 	}
 
 	/*
-	 * No sink was provided on the command line - for _now_ treat
-	 * this as an error.
+	 * No sink was provided on the command line - allow the CoreSight
+	 * system to look for a default
 	 */
-	return ret;
+	return 0;
 }
 
 static int cs_etm_recording_options(struct auxtrace_record *itr,