diff --git a/tools/perf/arch/arm64/util/arm-spe.c b/tools/perf/arch/arm64/util/arm-spe.c
index 86e2e926aa0e..af4d63af8072 100644
--- a/tools/perf/arch/arm64/util/arm-spe.c
+++ b/tools/perf/arch/arm64/util/arm-spe.c
@@ -239,6 +239,12 @@ static int arm_spe_recording_options(struct auxtrace_record *itr,
 		arm_spe_set_timestamp(itr, arm_spe_evsel);
 	}
 
+	/*
+	 * Set this only so that perf report knows that SPE generates memory info. It has no effect
+	 * on the opening of the event or the SPE data produced.
+	 */
+	evsel__set_sample_bit(arm_spe_evsel, DATA_SRC);
+
 	/* Add dummy event to keep tracking */
 	err = parse_events(evlist, "dummy:u", NULL);
 	if (err)