diff --git a/tools/perf/util/parse-events.y b/tools/perf/util/parse-events.y
index 17c8c66f3f51e6f22edde3ee8a84239399615236..2d60f3cbe42b9901aadca127960bcc16846e7877 100644
--- a/tools/perf/util/parse-events.y
+++ b/tools/perf/util/parse-events.y
@@ -183,6 +183,11 @@ group_def ':' PE_MODIFIER_EVENT
 	err = parse_events__modifier_group(list, $3);
 	free($3);
 	if (err) {
+		struct parse_events_state *parse_state = _parse_state;
+		struct parse_events_error *error = parse_state->error;
+
+		parse_events__handle_error(error, @3.first_column,
+					   strdup("Bad modifier"), NULL);
 		free_list_evsel(list);
 		YYABORT;
 	}
@@ -240,6 +245,11 @@ event_name PE_MODIFIER_EVENT
 	err = parse_events__modifier_event(list, $2, false);
 	free($2);
 	if (err) {
+		struct parse_events_state *parse_state = _parse_state;
+		struct parse_events_error *error = parse_state->error;
+
+		parse_events__handle_error(error, @2.first_column,
+					   strdup("Bad modifier"), NULL);
 		free_list_evsel(list);
 		YYABORT;
 	}