diff --git a/tools/perf/util/pmu.c b/tools/perf/util/pmu.c
index b615cdf..c548ec8 100644
--- a/tools/perf/util/pmu.c
+++ b/tools/perf/util/pmu.c
@@ -542,7 +542,7 @@
 }
 
 static struct perf_pmu_format *
-pmu_find_format(struct list_head *formats, char *name)
+pmu_find_format(struct list_head *formats, const char *name)
 {
 	struct perf_pmu_format *format;
 
@@ -553,6 +553,21 @@
 	return NULL;
 }
 
+__u64 perf_pmu__format_bits(struct list_head *formats, const char *name)
+{
+	struct perf_pmu_format *format = pmu_find_format(formats, name);
+	__u64 bits = 0;
+	int fbit;
+
+	if (!format)
+		return 0;
+
+	for_each_set_bit(fbit, format->bits, PERF_PMU_FORMAT_BITS)
+		bits |= 1ULL << fbit;
+
+	return bits;
+}
+
 /*
  * Sets value based on the format definition (format parameter)
  * and unformated value (value parameter).
diff --git a/tools/perf/util/pmu.h b/tools/perf/util/pmu.h
index 7b9c8cf..5d7e844 100644
--- a/tools/perf/util/pmu.h
+++ b/tools/perf/util/pmu.h
@@ -54,6 +54,7 @@
 			   struct perf_event_attr *attr,
 			   struct list_head *head_terms,
 			   bool zero, struct parse_events_error *error);
+__u64 perf_pmu__format_bits(struct list_head *formats, const char *name);
 int perf_pmu__check_alias(struct perf_pmu *pmu, struct list_head *head_terms,
 			  struct perf_pmu_info *info);
 struct list_head *perf_pmu__alias(struct perf_pmu *pmu,