diff --git a/tools/perf/util/evlist.c b/tools/perf/util/evlist.c
index a8643735dcea..e6760380d731 100644
--- a/tools/perf/util/evlist.c
+++ b/tools/perf/util/evlist.c
@@ -617,6 +617,21 @@ struct perf_evsel *perf_evlist__id2evsel(struct perf_evlist *evlist, u64 id)
 	return NULL;
 }
 
+struct perf_evsel *perf_evlist__id2evsel_strict(struct perf_evlist *evlist,
+						u64 id)
+{
+	struct perf_sample_id *sid;
+
+	if (!id)
+		return NULL;
+
+	sid = perf_evlist__id2sid(evlist, id);
+	if (sid)
+		return sid->evsel;
+
+	return NULL;
+}
+
 static int perf_evlist__event2id(struct perf_evlist *evlist,
 				 union perf_event *event, u64 *id)
 {
diff --git a/tools/perf/util/evlist.h b/tools/perf/util/evlist.h
index 115d8b53c601..0edf0d4f4efa 100644
--- a/tools/perf/util/evlist.h
+++ b/tools/perf/util/evlist.h
@@ -104,6 +104,8 @@ int perf_evlist__filter_pollfd(struct perf_evlist *evlist, short revents_and_mas
 int perf_evlist__poll(struct perf_evlist *evlist, int timeout);
 
 struct perf_evsel *perf_evlist__id2evsel(struct perf_evlist *evlist, u64 id);
+struct perf_evsel *perf_evlist__id2evsel_strict(struct perf_evlist *evlist,
+						u64 id);
 
 struct perf_sample_id *perf_evlist__id2sid(struct perf_evlist *evlist, u64 id);