diff --git a/tools/perf/util/evsel.c b/tools/perf/util/evsel.c
index 09b9735..e3be3cc 100644
--- a/tools/perf/util/evsel.c
+++ b/tools/perf/util/evsel.c
@@ -998,6 +998,14 @@ static void __evsel__config_callchain(struct evsel *evsel, struct record_opts *o
 		}
 	}
 
+	if (param->record_mode == CALLCHAIN_FP && !attr->exclude_callchain_user) {
+		/*
+		 * Enable deferred callchains optimistically.  It'll be switched
+		 * off later if the kernel doesn't support it.
+		 */
+		attr->defer_callchain = 1;
+	}
+
 	if (function) {
 		pr_info("Disabling user space callchains for function trace event.\n");
 		attr->exclude_callchain_user = 1;
@@ -2038,6 +2046,8 @@ static int __evsel__prepare_open(struct evsel *evsel, struct perf_cpu_map *cpus,
 
 static void evsel__disable_missing_features(struct evsel *evsel)
 {
+	if (perf_missing_features.defer_callchain)
+		evsel->core.attr.defer_callchain = 0;
 	if (perf_missing_features.inherit_sample_read && evsel->core.attr.inherit &&
 	    (evsel->core.attr.sample_type & PERF_SAMPLE_READ))
 		evsel->core.attr.inherit = 0;
@@ -2244,6 +2254,15 @@ static bool evsel__detect_missing_features(struct evsel *evsel)
 
 	/* Please add new feature detection here. */
 
+	attr.defer_callchain = true;
+	attr.sample_type = PERF_SAMPLE_CALLCHAIN;
+	if (has_attr_feature(&attr, /*flags=*/0))
+		goto found;
+	perf_missing_features.defer_callchain = true;
+	pr_debug2("switching off deferred callchain support\n");
+	attr.defer_callchain = false;
+	attr.sample_type = 0;
+
 	attr.inherit = true;
 	attr.sample_type = PERF_SAMPLE_READ;
 	if (has_attr_feature(&attr, /*flags=*/0))
@@ -2355,6 +2374,11 @@ static bool evsel__detect_missing_features(struct evsel *evsel)
 	errno = old_errno;
 
 check:
+	if (evsel->core.attr.defer_callchain &&
+	    evsel->core.attr.sample_type & PERF_SAMPLE_CALLCHAIN &&
+	    perf_missing_features.defer_callchain)
+		return true;
+
 	if (evsel->core.attr.inherit &&
 	    (evsel->core.attr.sample_type & PERF_SAMPLE_READ) &&
 	    perf_missing_features.inherit_sample_read)
diff --git a/tools/perf/util/evsel.h b/tools/perf/util/evsel.h
index 04934a7..b90a970 100644
--- a/tools/perf/util/evsel.h
+++ b/tools/perf/util/evsel.h
@@ -206,6 +206,7 @@ struct perf_missing_features {
 	bool read_lost;
 	bool branch_counters;
 	bool inherit_sample_read;
+	bool defer_callchain;
 };
 
 extern struct perf_missing_features perf_missing_features;