diff --git a/tools/perf/tests/parse-events.c b/tools/perf/tests/parse-events.c
index edc2adcf1bae..a9a77dfe0e97 100644
--- a/tools/perf/tests/parse-events.c
+++ b/tools/perf/tests/parse-events.c
@@ -2500,7 +2500,7 @@ static int test_event(const struct evlist_test *e)
 		return TEST_FAIL;
 	}
 	parse_events_error__init(&err);
-	ret = __parse_events(evlist, e->name, /*pmu_filter=*/NULL, &err, /*fake_pmu=*/NULL,
+	ret = __parse_events(evlist, e->name, /*pmu_filter=*/NULL, &err, /*fake_pmu=*/false,
 			     /*warn_if_reordered=*/true, /*fake_tp=*/true);
 	if (ret) {
 		pr_debug("failed to parse event '%s', err %d\n", e->name, ret);
@@ -2529,7 +2529,7 @@ static int test_event_fake_pmu(const char *str)
 
 	parse_events_error__init(&err);
 	ret = __parse_events(evlist, str, /*pmu_filter=*/NULL, &err,
-			     &perf_pmu__fake, /*warn_if_reordered=*/true,
+			     /*fake_pmu=*/true, /*warn_if_reordered=*/true,
 			     /*fake_tp=*/true);
 	if (ret) {
 		pr_debug("failed to parse event '%s', err %d\n",
diff --git a/tools/perf/tests/pmu-events.c b/tools/perf/tests/pmu-events.c
index ff3e7bc0a77f..db004d26fcb0 100644
--- a/tools/perf/tests/pmu-events.c
+++ b/tools/perf/tests/pmu-events.c
@@ -819,8 +819,7 @@ static bool is_number(const char *str)
 	return errno == 0 && end_ptr != str;
 }
 
-static int check_parse_id(const char *id, struct parse_events_error *error,
-			  struct perf_pmu *fake_pmu)
+static int check_parse_id(const char *id, struct parse_events_error *error)
 {
 	struct evlist *evlist;
 	int ret;
@@ -841,7 +840,7 @@ static int check_parse_id(const char *id, struct parse_events_error *error,
 	for (cur = strchr(dup, '@') ; cur; cur = strchr(++cur, '@'))
 		*cur = '/';
 
-	ret = __parse_events(evlist, dup, /*pmu_filter=*/NULL, error, fake_pmu,
+	ret = __parse_events(evlist, dup, /*pmu_filter=*/NULL, error, /*fake_pmu=*/true,
 			     /*warn_if_reordered=*/true, /*fake_tp=*/false);
 	free(dup);
 
@@ -855,7 +854,7 @@ static int check_parse_fake(const char *id)
 	int ret;
 
 	parse_events_error__init(&error);
-	ret = check_parse_id(id, &error, &perf_pmu__fake);
+	ret = check_parse_id(id, &error);
 	parse_events_error__exit(&error);
 	return ret;
 }
@@ -1051,9 +1050,8 @@ static int test__parsing_fake_callback(const struct pmu_metric *pm,
 }
 
 /*
- * Parse all the metrics for current architecture,
- * or all defined cpus via the 'fake_pmu'
- * in parse_events.
+ * Parse all the metrics for current architecture, or all defined cpus via the
+ * 'fake_pmu' in parse_events.
  */
 static int test__parsing_fake(struct test_suite *test __maybe_unused,
 			      int subtest __maybe_unused)
diff --git a/tools/perf/util/metricgroup.c b/tools/perf/util/metricgroup.c
index 69f6a46402c3..4dff3e925a47 100644
--- a/tools/perf/util/metricgroup.c
+++ b/tools/perf/util/metricgroup.c
@@ -1436,7 +1436,7 @@ static int build_combined_expr_ctx(const struct list_head *metric_list,
  * parse_ids - Build the event string for the ids and parse them creating an
  *             evlist. The encoded metric_ids are decoded.
  * @metric_no_merge: is metric sharing explicitly disabled.
- * @fake_pmu: used when testing metrics not supported by the current CPU.
+ * @fake_pmu: use a fake PMU when testing metrics not supported by the current CPU.
  * @ids: the event identifiers parsed from a metric.
  * @modifier: any modifiers added to the events.
  * @group_events: should events be placed in a weak group.
@@ -1444,7 +1444,7 @@ static int build_combined_expr_ctx(const struct list_head *metric_list,
  *               the overall list of metrics.
  * @out_evlist: the created list of events.
  */
-static int parse_ids(bool metric_no_merge, struct perf_pmu *fake_pmu,
+static int parse_ids(bool metric_no_merge, bool fake_pmu,
 		     struct expr_parse_ctx *ids, const char *modifier,
 		     bool group_events, const bool tool_events[PERF_TOOL_MAX],
 		     struct evlist **out_evlist)
@@ -1528,7 +1528,7 @@ static int parse_groups(struct evlist *perf_evlist,
 			bool metric_no_threshold,
 			const char *user_requested_cpu_list,
 			bool system_wide,
-			struct perf_pmu *fake_pmu,
+			bool fake_pmu,
 			struct rblist *metric_events_list,
 			const struct pmu_metrics_table *table)
 {
@@ -1703,7 +1703,7 @@ int metricgroup__parse_groups(struct evlist *perf_evlist,
 
 	return parse_groups(perf_evlist, pmu, str, metric_no_group, metric_no_merge,
 			    metric_no_threshold, user_requested_cpu_list, system_wide,
-			    /*fake_pmu=*/NULL, metric_events, table);
+			    /*fake_pmu=*/false, metric_events, table);
 }
 
 int metricgroup__parse_groups_test(struct evlist *evlist,
@@ -1717,7 +1717,7 @@ int metricgroup__parse_groups_test(struct evlist *evlist,
 			    /*metric_no_threshold=*/false,
 			    /*user_requested_cpu_list=*/NULL,
 			    /*system_wide=*/false,
-			    &perf_pmu__fake, metric_events, table);
+			    /*fake_pmu=*/true, metric_events, table);
 }
 
 struct metricgroup__has_metric_data {
diff --git a/tools/perf/util/parse-events.c b/tools/perf/util/parse-events.c
index fab01ba54e34..081ceff467f2 100644
--- a/tools/perf/util/parse-events.c
+++ b/tools/perf/util/parse-events.c
@@ -1478,8 +1478,8 @@ static int parse_events_add_pmu(struct parse_events_state *parse_state,
 	}
 
 	/* Look for event names in the terms and rewrite into format based terms. */
-	if (!parse_state->fake_pmu && perf_pmu__check_alias(pmu, &parsed_terms,
-							    &info, &alias_rewrote_terms, err)) {
+	if (perf_pmu__check_alias(pmu, &parsed_terms,
+				  &info, &alias_rewrote_terms, err)) {
 		parse_events_terms__exit(&parsed_terms);
 		return -EINVAL;
 	}
@@ -1515,8 +1515,7 @@ static int parse_events_add_pmu(struct parse_events_state *parse_state,
 		return -ENOMEM;
 	}
 
-	if (!parse_state->fake_pmu &&
-	    perf_pmu__config(pmu, &attr, &parsed_terms, parse_state->error)) {
+	if (perf_pmu__config(pmu, &attr, &parsed_terms, parse_state->error)) {
 		free_config_terms(&config_terms);
 		parse_events_terms__exit(&parsed_terms);
 		return -EINVAL;
@@ -1536,11 +1535,6 @@ static int parse_events_add_pmu(struct parse_events_state *parse_state,
 
 	evsel->percore = config_term_percore(&evsel->config_terms);
 
-	if (parse_state->fake_pmu) {
-		parse_events_terms__exit(&parsed_terms);
-		return 0;
-	}
-
 	parse_events_terms__exit(&parsed_terms);
 	free((char *)evsel->unit);
 	evsel->unit = strdup(info.unit);
@@ -1616,13 +1610,13 @@ int parse_events_multi_pmu_add(struct parse_events_state *parse_state,
 	}
 
 	if (parse_state->fake_pmu) {
-		if (!parse_events_add_pmu(parse_state, list, parse_state->fake_pmu, &parsed_terms,
+		if (!parse_events_add_pmu(parse_state, list, perf_pmus__fake_pmu(), &parsed_terms,
 					  /*auto_merge_stats=*/true)) {
 			struct strbuf sb;
 
 			strbuf_init(&sb, /*hint=*/ 0);
 			parse_events_terms__to_strbuf(&parsed_terms, &sb);
-			pr_debug("%s -> %s/%s/\n", event_name, "fake_pmu", sb.buf);
+			pr_debug("%s -> fake/%s/\n", event_name, sb.buf);
 			strbuf_release(&sb);
 			ok++;
 		}
@@ -1656,11 +1650,18 @@ int parse_events_multi_pmu_add_or_add_pmu(struct parse_events_state *parse_state
 	INIT_LIST_HEAD(*listp);
 
 	/* Attempt to add to list assuming event_or_pmu is a PMU name. */
-	pmu = parse_state->fake_pmu ?: perf_pmus__find(event_or_pmu);
+	pmu = perf_pmus__find(event_or_pmu);
 	if (pmu && !parse_events_add_pmu(parse_state, *listp, pmu, const_parsed_terms,
 					/*auto_merge_stats=*/false))
 		return 0;
 
+	if (parse_state->fake_pmu) {
+		if (!parse_events_add_pmu(parse_state, *listp, perf_pmus__fake_pmu(),
+					  const_parsed_terms,
+					  /*auto_merge_stats=*/false))
+			return 0;
+	}
+
 	pmu = NULL;
 	/* Failed to add, try wildcard expansion of event_or_pmu as a PMU name. */
 	while ((pmu = perf_pmus__scan(pmu)) != NULL) {
@@ -1961,8 +1962,8 @@ static int evsel__compute_group_pmu_name(struct evsel *evsel,
 			}
 		}
 	}
-	/* Assign the actual name taking care that the fake PMU lacks a name. */
-	evsel->group_pmu_name = strdup(group_pmu_name ?: "fake");
+	/* Record computed name. */
+	evsel->group_pmu_name = strdup(group_pmu_name);
 	return evsel->group_pmu_name ? 0 : -ENOMEM;
 }
 
@@ -2124,7 +2125,7 @@ static int parse_events__sort_events_and_fix_groups(struct list_head *list)
 }
 
 int __parse_events(struct evlist *evlist, const char *str, const char *pmu_filter,
-		   struct parse_events_error *err, struct perf_pmu *fake_pmu,
+		   struct parse_events_error *err, bool fake_pmu,
 		   bool warn_if_reordered, bool fake_tp)
 {
 	struct parse_events_state parse_state = {
@@ -2343,7 +2344,7 @@ int parse_events_option(const struct option *opt, const char *str,
 
 	parse_events_error__init(&err);
 	ret = __parse_events(*args->evlistp, str, args->pmu_filter, &err,
-			     /*fake_pmu=*/NULL, /*warn_if_reordered=*/true,
+			     /*fake_pmu=*/false, /*warn_if_reordered=*/true,
 			     /*fake_tp=*/false);
 
 	if (ret) {
diff --git a/tools/perf/util/parse-events.h b/tools/perf/util/parse-events.h
index b735cd9e0acf..bfbf391451d9 100644
--- a/tools/perf/util/parse-events.h
+++ b/tools/perf/util/parse-events.h
@@ -31,14 +31,14 @@ int parse_events_option(const struct option *opt, const char *str, int unset);
 int parse_events_option_new_evlist(const struct option *opt, const char *str, int unset);
 __attribute__((nonnull(1, 2, 4)))
 int __parse_events(struct evlist *evlist, const char *str, const char *pmu_filter,
-		   struct parse_events_error *error, struct perf_pmu *fake_pmu,
+		   struct parse_events_error *error, bool fake_pmu,
 		   bool warn_if_reordered, bool fake_tp);
 
 __attribute__((nonnull(1, 2, 3)))
 static inline int parse_events(struct evlist *evlist, const char *str,
 			       struct parse_events_error *err)
 {
-	return __parse_events(evlist, str, /*pmu_filter=*/NULL, err, /*fake_pmu=*/NULL,
+	return __parse_events(evlist, str, /*pmu_filter=*/NULL, err, /*fake_pmu=*/false,
 			      /*warn_if_reordered=*/true, /*fake_tp=*/false);
 }
 
@@ -150,8 +150,8 @@ struct parse_events_state {
 	struct parse_events_terms *terms;
 	/* Start token. */
 	int			   stoken;
-	/* Special fake PMU marker for testing. */
-	struct perf_pmu		  *fake_pmu;
+	/* Use the fake PMU marker for testing. */
+	bool			   fake_pmu;
 	/* Skip actual tracepoint processing for testing. */
 	bool			   fake_tp;
 	/* If non-null, when wildcard matching only match the given PMU. */
diff --git a/tools/perf/util/pmu.c b/tools/perf/util/pmu.c
index 0b38c51bd6eb..50e2e7abffab 100644
--- a/tools/perf/util/pmu.c
+++ b/tools/perf/util/pmu.c
@@ -30,10 +30,6 @@
 #include "util/evsel_config.h"
 #include <regex.h>
 
-struct perf_pmu perf_pmu__fake = {
-	.name = "fake",
-};
-
 #define UNIT_MAX_LEN	31 /* max length for event unit name */
 
 enum event_source {
@@ -1173,6 +1169,11 @@ struct perf_pmu *perf_pmu__create_placeholder_core_pmu(struct list_head *core_pm
 	return pmu;
 }
 
+static bool perf_pmu__is_fake(const struct perf_pmu *pmu)
+{
+	return pmu->type == PERF_PMU_TYPE_FAKE;
+}
+
 void perf_pmu__warn_invalid_formats(struct perf_pmu *pmu)
 {
 	struct perf_pmu_format *format;
@@ -1183,7 +1184,7 @@ void perf_pmu__warn_invalid_formats(struct perf_pmu *pmu)
 	pmu->formats_checked = true;
 
 	/* fake pmu doesn't have format list */
-	if (pmu == &perf_pmu__fake)
+	if (perf_pmu__is_fake(pmu))
 		return;
 
 	list_for_each_entry(format, &pmu->format, list) {
@@ -1511,6 +1512,10 @@ int perf_pmu__config(struct perf_pmu *pmu, struct perf_event_attr *attr,
 {
 	bool zero = !!pmu->perf_event_attr_init_default;
 
+	/* Fake PMU doesn't have proper terms so nothing to configure in attr. */
+	if (perf_pmu__is_fake(pmu))
+		return 0;
+
 	return perf_pmu__config_terms(pmu, attr, head_terms, zero, err);
 }
 
@@ -1619,6 +1624,10 @@ int perf_pmu__check_alias(struct perf_pmu *pmu, struct parse_events_terms *head_
 	info->scale    = 0.0;
 	info->snapshot = false;
 
+	/* Fake PMU doesn't rewrite terms. */
+	if (perf_pmu__is_fake(pmu))
+		goto out;
+
 	list_for_each_entry_safe(term, h, &head_terms->terms, list) {
 		alias = pmu_find_alias(pmu, term);
 		if (!alias)
@@ -1641,7 +1650,7 @@ int perf_pmu__check_alias(struct perf_pmu *pmu, struct parse_events_terms *head_
 		list_del_init(&term->list);
 		parse_events_term__delete(term);
 	}
-
+out:
 	/*
 	 * if no unit or scale found in aliases, then
 	 * set defaults as for evsel
diff --git a/tools/perf/util/pmu.h b/tools/perf/util/pmu.h
index b2d3fd291f02..d6f702e55a05 100644
--- a/tools/perf/util/pmu.h
+++ b/tools/perf/util/pmu.h
@@ -36,6 +36,10 @@ struct perf_pmu_caps {
 	struct list_head list;
 };
 
+enum {
+	PERF_PMU_TYPE_FAKE = 0xFFFFFFFF,
+};
+
 /**
  * struct perf_pmu
  */
@@ -173,9 +177,6 @@ struct perf_pmu {
 	struct perf_mem_event *mem_events;
 };
 
-/** @perf_pmu__fake: A special global PMU used for testing. */
-extern struct perf_pmu perf_pmu__fake;
-
 struct perf_pmu_info {
 	const char *unit;
 	double scale;
diff --git a/tools/perf/util/pmus.c b/tools/perf/util/pmus.c
index 3fcabfd8fca1..864cbfa1f960 100644
--- a/tools/perf/util/pmus.c
+++ b/tools/perf/util/pmus.c
@@ -720,3 +720,14 @@ struct perf_pmu *perf_pmus__add_test_pmu(int test_sysfs_dirfd, const char *name)
 	 */
 	return perf_pmu__lookup(&other_pmus, test_sysfs_dirfd, name, /*eager_load=*/true);
 }
+
+struct perf_pmu *perf_pmus__fake_pmu(void)
+{
+	static struct perf_pmu fake = {
+		.name = "fake",
+		.type = PERF_PMU_TYPE_FAKE,
+		.format = LIST_HEAD_INIT(fake.format),
+	};
+
+	return &fake;
+}
diff --git a/tools/perf/util/pmus.h b/tools/perf/util/pmus.h
index bdbff02324bb..e1742b56eec7 100644
--- a/tools/perf/util/pmus.h
+++ b/tools/perf/util/pmus.h
@@ -30,5 +30,6 @@ bool perf_pmus__supports_extended_type(void);
 char *perf_pmus__default_pmu_name(void);
 
 struct perf_pmu *perf_pmus__add_test_pmu(int test_sysfs_dirfd, const char *name);
+struct perf_pmu *perf_pmus__fake_pmu(void);
 
 #endif /* __PMUS_H */
