diff --git a/tools/perf/util/debug.c b/tools/perf/util/debug.c
index 2c06abf6dcd2..c7a9fa0ffae9 100644
--- a/tools/perf/util/debug.c
+++ b/tools/perf/util/debug.c
@@ -24,6 +24,16 @@
 #include "util/parse-sublevel-options.h"
 
 #include <linux/ctype.h>
+#include <traceevent/event-parse.h>
+
+#define MAKE_LIBTRACEEVENT_VERSION(a, b, c) ((a)*255*255+(b)*255+(c))
+#ifndef LIBTRACEEVENT_VERSION
+/*
+ * If LIBTRACEEVENT_VERSION wasn't computed then set to version 1.1.0 that ships
+ * with the Linux kernel tools.
+ */
+#define LIBTRACEEVENT_VERSION MAKE_LIBTRACEEVENT_VERSION(1, 1, 0)
+#endif
 
 int verbose;
 int debug_peo_args;
@@ -228,6 +238,15 @@ int perf_debug_option(const char *str)
 	/* Allow only verbose value in range (0, 10), otherwise set 0. */
 	verbose = (verbose < 0) || (verbose > 10) ? 0 : verbose;
 
+#if MAKE_LIBTRACEEVENT_VERSION(1, 3, 0) <= LIBTRACEEVENT_VERSION
+	if (verbose == 1)
+		tep_set_loglevel(TEP_LOG_INFO);
+	else if (verbose == 2)
+		tep_set_loglevel(TEP_LOG_DEBUG);
+	else if (verbose >= 3)
+		tep_set_loglevel(TEP_LOG_ALL);
+#endif
+
 	return 0;
 }