diff --git a/tools/perf/util/stat-display.c b/tools/perf/util/stat-display.c
index d89cb0d..76c6052 100644
--- a/tools/perf/util/stat-display.c
+++ b/tools/perf/util/stat-display.c
@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@
 #include <linux/ctype.h>
 #include "cgroup.h"
 #include <api/fs/fs.h>
+#include "util.h"
 
 #define CNTR_NOT_SUPPORTED	"<not supported>"
 #define CNTR_NOT_COUNTED	"<not counted>"
@@ -1097,7 +1098,6 @@
 {
 	double avg = avg_stats(config->walltime_nsecs_stats) / NSEC_PER_SEC;
 	FILE *output = config->output;
-	int n;
 
 	if (!config->null_run)
 		fprintf(output, "\n");
@@ -1131,9 +1131,7 @@
 	}
 	fprintf(output, "\n\n");
 
-	if (config->print_free_counters_hint &&
-	    sysctl__read_int("kernel/nmi_watchdog", &n) >= 0 &&
-	    n > 0)
+	if (config->print_free_counters_hint && sysctl__nmi_watchdog_enabled())
 		fprintf(output,
 "Some events weren't counted. Try disabling the NMI watchdog:\n"
 "	echo 0 > /proc/sys/kernel/nmi_watchdog\n"
diff --git a/tools/perf/util/util.c b/tools/perf/util/util.c
index 969ae56..d707c96 100644
--- a/tools/perf/util/util.c
+++ b/tools/perf/util/util.c
@@ -55,6 +55,24 @@
 	return sysctl_perf_event_max_stack;
 }
 
+bool sysctl__nmi_watchdog_enabled(void)
+{
+	static bool cached;
+	static bool nmi_watchdog;
+	int value;
+
+	if (cached)
+		return nmi_watchdog;
+
+	if (sysctl__read_int("kernel/nmi_watchdog", &value) < 0)
+		return false;
+
+	nmi_watchdog = (value > 0) ? true : false;
+	cached = true;
+
+	return nmi_watchdog;
+}
+
 bool test_attr__enabled;
 
 bool perf_host  = true;
diff --git a/tools/perf/util/util.h b/tools/perf/util/util.h
index 9969b8b..f486fdd 100644
--- a/tools/perf/util/util.h
+++ b/tools/perf/util/util.h
@@ -29,6 +29,8 @@
 
 int sysctl__max_stack(void);
 
+bool sysctl__nmi_watchdog_enabled(void);
+
 int fetch_kernel_version(unsigned int *puint,
 			 char *str, size_t str_sz);
 #define KVER_VERSION(x)		(((x) >> 16) & 0xff)