diff --git a/tools/perf/tests/shell/test_arm_spe.sh b/tools/perf/tests/shell/test_arm_spe.sh
index b9c588ae3..962841a51 100755
--- a/tools/perf/tests/shell/test_arm_spe.sh
+++ b/tools/perf/tests/shell/test_arm_spe.sh
@@ -30,11 +30,13 @@ cleanup_files()
 trap cleanup_files exit term int
 
 arm_spe_report() {
-	if [ $2 != 0 ]; then
+	if [ $2 = 0 ]; then
+		echo "$1: PASS"
+	elif [ $2 = 2 ]; then
+		echo "$1: SKIPPED"
+	else
 		echo "$1: FAIL"
 		glb_err=$2
-	else
-		echo "$1: PASS"
 	fi
 }
 
@@ -91,6 +93,11 @@ arm_spe_system_wide_test() {
 	perf record -o ${perfdata} -e arm_spe// -a \
 		-- dd if=/dev/zero of=/dev/null count=100000 > /dev/null 2>&1
 
+	if [ $? != 0 ]; then
+		arm_spe_report "SPE system-wide testing" 2
+		return
+	fi
+
 	perf_script_samples dd &&
 	perf_report_samples dd