diff --git a/kernel/events/core.c b/kernel/events/core.c
index 5b5cb620499e..a0fa488bce84 100644
--- a/kernel/events/core.c
+++ b/kernel/events/core.c
@@ -6997,6 +6997,15 @@ static int perf_mmap_rb(struct vm_area_struct *vma, struct perf_event *event,
 		if (data_page_nr(event->rb) != nr_pages)
 			return -EINVAL;
 
+		/*
+		 * If this event doesn't have mmap_count, we're attempting to
+		 * create an alias of another event's mmap(); this would mean
+		 * both events will end up scribbling the same user_page;
+		 * which makes no sense.
+		 */
+		if (!refcount_read(&event->mmap_count))
+			return -EBUSY;
+
 		if (refcount_inc_not_zero(&event->rb->mmap_count)) {
 			/*
 			 * Success -- managed to mmap() the same buffer