diff --git a/tools/perf/Makefile b/tools/perf/Makefile
index c699dc35eef9..d31a7bbd7cee 100644
--- a/tools/perf/Makefile
+++ b/tools/perf/Makefile
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@ unexport MAKEFLAGS
 # (To override it, run 'make JOBS=1' and similar.)
 #
 ifeq ($(JOBS),)
-  JOBS := $(shell egrep -c '^processor|^CPU' /proc/cpuinfo 2>/dev/null)
+  JOBS := $(shell (getconf _NPROCESSORS_ONLN || egrep -c '^processor|^CPU[0-9]' /proc/cpuinfo) 2>/dev/null)
   ifeq ($(JOBS),0)
     JOBS := 1
   endif