diff --git a/drivers/hwtracing/coresight/coresight-tmc-etf.c b/drivers/hwtracing/coresight/coresight-tmc-etf.c
index d0cc3985b72a04..36cce2bfb7449d 100644
--- a/drivers/hwtracing/coresight/coresight-tmc-etf.c
+++ b/drivers/hwtracing/coresight/coresight-tmc-etf.c
@@ -596,13 +596,6 @@ int tmc_read_prepare_etb(struct tmc_drvdata *drvdata)
 		goto out;
 	}
 
-	/* There is no point in reading a TMC in HW FIFO mode */
-	mode = readl_relaxed(drvdata->base + TMC_MODE);
-	if (mode != TMC_MODE_CIRCULAR_BUFFER) {
-		ret = -EINVAL;
-		goto out;
-	}
-
 	/* Don't interfere if operated from Perf */
 	if (drvdata->mode == CS_MODE_PERF) {
 		ret = -EINVAL;
@@ -616,8 +609,15 @@ int tmc_read_prepare_etb(struct tmc_drvdata *drvdata)
 	}
 
 	/* Disable the TMC if need be */
-	if (drvdata->mode == CS_MODE_SYSFS)
+	if (drvdata->mode == CS_MODE_SYSFS) {
+		/* There is no point in reading a TMC in HW FIFO mode */
+		mode = readl_relaxed(drvdata->base + TMC_MODE);
+		if (mode != TMC_MODE_CIRCULAR_BUFFER) {
+			ret = -EINVAL;
+			goto out;
+		}
 		__tmc_etb_disable_hw(drvdata);
+	}
 
 	drvdata->reading = true;
 out: