diff --git a/tools/perf/util/auxtrace.c b/tools/perf/util/auxtrace.c
index fb76b6b232d4c6..5dd9d1893b8969 100644
--- a/tools/perf/util/auxtrace.c
+++ b/tools/perf/util/auxtrace.c
@@ -1010,7 +1010,8 @@ int itrace_parse_synth_opts(const struct option *opt, const char *str,
 	}
 
 	if (!str) {
-		itrace_synth_opts__set_default(synth_opts, false);
+		itrace_synth_opts__set_default(synth_opts,
+					       synth_opts->default_no_sample);
 		return 0;
 	}