diff --git a/repos/base-hw/src/bootstrap/spec/arm_64/cortex_a53_mmu.cc b/repos/base-hw/src/bootstrap/spec/arm_64/cortex_a53_mmu.cc
index f8d9536e0..091e60dd0 100644
--- a/repos/base-hw/src/bootstrap/spec/arm_64/cortex_a53_mmu.cc
+++ b/repos/base-hw/src/bootstrap/spec/arm_64/cortex_a53_mmu.cc
@@ -158,6 +158,9 @@ unsigned Bootstrap::Platform::enable_mmu()
 
 	/* enable performance counter for user-land */
 	Cpu::Pmuserenr_el0::write(0b1111);
+	Cpu::Pmcr_el0::access_t pmcr = Cpu::Pmcr_el0::read();
+	Cpu::Pmcr_el0::write(pmcr | 1);
+	Cpu::Pmcntenset_el0::write(1 << 31);
 
 	/* enable user-level access of physical/virtual counter */
 	Cpu::Cntkctl_el1::write(0b11);
diff --git a/repos/base-hw/src/include/hw/spec/arm_64/cpu.h b/repos/base-hw/src/include/hw/spec/arm_64/cpu.h
index 5dee63eb5..4d195d4e1 100644
--- a/repos/base-hw/src/include/hw/spec/arm_64/cpu.h
+++ b/repos/base-hw/src/include/hw/spec/arm_64/cpu.h
@@ -137,6 +137,8 @@ struct Hw::Arm_64_cpu
 
 	SYSTEM_REGISTER(64, Mpidr, mpidr_el1);
 
+	SYSTEM_REGISTER(32, Pmcr_el0, pmcr_el0);
+	SYSTEM_REGISTER(32, Pmcntenset_el0, pmcntenset_el0);
 	SYSTEM_REGISTER(32, Pmuserenr_el0, pmuserenr_el0);
 
 	SYSTEM_REGISTER(64, Scr, scr_el3,