diff --git a/kernel/events/core.c b/kernel/events/core.c
index ab51241d5bd..3b1a2469e3a 100644
--- a/kernel/events/core.c
+++ b/kernel/events/core.c
@@ -259,9 +259,9 @@ perf_cgroup_match(struct perf_event *event)
 	return !event->cgrp || event->cgrp == cpuctx->cgrp;
 }
 
-static inline void perf_get_cgroup(struct perf_event *event)
+static inline bool perf_tryget_cgroup(struct perf_event *event)
 {
-	css_get(&event->cgrp->css);
+	return css_tryget(&event->cgrp->css);
 }
 
 static inline void perf_put_cgroup(struct perf_event *event)
@@ -493,7 +493,11 @@ static inline int perf_cgroup_connect(int fd, struct perf_event *event,
 	event->cgrp = cgrp;
 
 	/* must be done before we fput() the file */
-	perf_get_cgroup(event);
+	if (!perf_tryget_cgroup(event)) {
+		event->cgrp = NULL;
+		ret = -ENOENT;
+		goto out;
+	}
 
 	/*
 	 * all events in a group must monitor