diff --git a/tools/perf/arch/x86/tests/perf-time-to-tsc.c b/tools/perf/arch/x86/tests/perf-time-to-tsc.c
index 5dd7efb..c7ea843 100644
--- a/tools/perf/arch/x86/tests/perf-time-to-tsc.c
+++ b/tools/perf/arch/x86/tests/perf-time-to-tsc.c
@@ -83,7 +83,7 @@ int test__perf_time_to_tsc(struct test *test __maybe_unused, int subtest __maybe
 
 	CHECK__(perf_evlist__open(evlist));
 
-	CHECK__(perf_evlist__mmap(evlist, UINT_MAX, false));
+	CHECK__(perf_evlist__mmap(evlist, UINT_MAX));
 
 	pc = evlist->mmap[0].base;
 	ret = perf_read_tsc_conversion(pc, &tc);
diff --git a/tools/perf/builtin-kvm.c b/tools/perf/builtin-kvm.c
index 0af4c09..e3e2a80 100644
--- a/tools/perf/builtin-kvm.c
+++ b/tools/perf/builtin-kvm.c
@@ -1043,7 +1043,7 @@ static int kvm_live_open_events(struct perf_kvm_stat *kvm)
 		goto out;
 	}
 
-	if (perf_evlist__mmap(evlist, kvm->opts.mmap_pages, false) < 0) {
+	if (perf_evlist__mmap(evlist, kvm->opts.mmap_pages) < 0) {
 		ui__error("Failed to mmap the events: %s\n",
 			  str_error_r(errno, sbuf, sizeof(sbuf)));
 		perf_evlist__close(evlist);
diff --git a/tools/perf/builtin-record.c b/tools/perf/builtin-record.c
index f4d9fc5..b3ef33f 100644
--- a/tools/perf/builtin-record.c
+++ b/tools/perf/builtin-record.c
@@ -300,7 +300,7 @@ static int record__mmap_evlist(struct record *rec,
 	struct record_opts *opts = &rec->opts;
 	char msg[512];
 
-	if (perf_evlist__mmap_ex(evlist, opts->mmap_pages, false,
+	if (perf_evlist__mmap_ex(evlist, opts->mmap_pages,
 				 opts->auxtrace_mmap_pages,
 				 opts->auxtrace_snapshot_mode) < 0) {
 		if (errno == EPERM) {
@@ -481,7 +481,7 @@ static int record__mmap_read_evlist(struct record *rec, struct perf_evlist *evli
 		struct auxtrace_mmap *mm = &maps[i].auxtrace_mmap;
 
 		if (maps[i].base) {
-			if (perf_mmap__push(&maps[i], evlist->overwrite, backward, rec, record__pushfn) != 0) {
+			if (perf_mmap__push(&maps[i], backward, rec, record__pushfn) != 0) {
 				rc = -1;
 				goto out;
 			}
diff --git a/tools/perf/builtin-top.c b/tools/perf/builtin-top.c
index 477a869..83d2ae2 100644
--- a/tools/perf/builtin-top.c
+++ b/tools/perf/builtin-top.c
@@ -902,7 +902,7 @@ static int perf_top__start_counters(struct perf_top *top)
 		}
 	}
 
-	if (perf_evlist__mmap(evlist, opts->mmap_pages, false) < 0) {
+	if (perf_evlist__mmap(evlist, opts->mmap_pages) < 0) {
 		ui__error("Failed to mmap with %d (%s)\n",
 			    errno, str_error_r(errno, msg, sizeof(msg)));
 		goto out_err;
diff --git a/tools/perf/builtin-trace.c b/tools/perf/builtin-trace.c
index c373f9a..c3f2f98 100644
--- a/tools/perf/builtin-trace.c
+++ b/tools/perf/builtin-trace.c
@@ -2404,7 +2404,7 @@ static int trace__run(struct trace *trace, int argc, const char **argv)
 	if (err < 0)
 		goto out_error_apply_filters;
 
-	err = perf_evlist__mmap(evlist, trace->opts.mmap_pages, false);
+	err = perf_evlist__mmap(evlist, trace->opts.mmap_pages);
 	if (err < 0)
 		goto out_error_mmap;
 
diff --git a/tools/perf/tests/backward-ring-buffer.c b/tools/perf/tests/backward-ring-buffer.c
index 992c917..bdebcf9 100644
--- a/tools/perf/tests/backward-ring-buffer.c
+++ b/tools/perf/tests/backward-ring-buffer.c
@@ -58,7 +58,7 @@ static int do_test(struct perf_evlist *evlist, int mmap_pages,
 	int err;
 	char sbuf[STRERR_BUFSIZE];
 
-	err = perf_evlist__mmap(evlist, mmap_pages, false);
+	err = perf_evlist__mmap(evlist, mmap_pages);
 	if (err < 0) {
 		pr_debug("perf_evlist__mmap: %s\n",
 			 str_error_r(errno, sbuf, sizeof(sbuf)));
diff --git a/tools/perf/tests/bpf.c b/tools/perf/tests/bpf.c
index 34c22cd..c433dd3 100644
--- a/tools/perf/tests/bpf.c
+++ b/tools/perf/tests/bpf.c
@@ -167,7 +167,7 @@ static int do_test(struct bpf_object *obj, int (*func)(void),
 		goto out_delete_evlist;
 	}
 
-	err = perf_evlist__mmap(evlist, opts.mmap_pages, false);
+	err = perf_evlist__mmap(evlist, opts.mmap_pages);
 	if (err < 0) {
 		pr_debug("perf_evlist__mmap: %s\n",
 			 str_error_r(errno, sbuf, sizeof(sbuf)));
diff --git a/tools/perf/tests/code-reading.c b/tools/perf/tests/code-reading.c
index 466a462..b6c813e 100644
--- a/tools/perf/tests/code-reading.c
+++ b/tools/perf/tests/code-reading.c
@@ -638,7 +638,7 @@ static int do_test_code_reading(bool try_kcore)
 		break;
 	}
 
-	ret = perf_evlist__mmap(evlist, UINT_MAX, false);
+	ret = perf_evlist__mmap(evlist, UINT_MAX);
 	if (ret < 0) {
 		pr_debug("perf_evlist__mmap failed\n");
 		goto out_put;
diff --git a/tools/perf/tests/keep-tracking.c b/tools/perf/tests/keep-tracking.c
index 7394286..b282916 100644
--- a/tools/perf/tests/keep-tracking.c
+++ b/tools/perf/tests/keep-tracking.c
@@ -94,7 +94,7 @@ int test__keep_tracking(struct test *test __maybe_unused, int subtest __maybe_un
 		goto out_err;
 	}
 
-	CHECK__(perf_evlist__mmap(evlist, UINT_MAX, false));
+	CHECK__(perf_evlist__mmap(evlist, UINT_MAX));
 
 	/*
 	 * First, test that a 'comm' event can be found when the event is
diff --git a/tools/perf/tests/mmap-basic.c b/tools/perf/tests/mmap-basic.c
index 667d696..f43d862 100644
--- a/tools/perf/tests/mmap-basic.c
+++ b/tools/perf/tests/mmap-basic.c
@@ -93,7 +93,7 @@ int test__basic_mmap(struct test *test __maybe_unused, int subtest __maybe_unuse
 		expected_nr_events[i] = 1 + rand() % 127;
 	}
 
-	if (perf_evlist__mmap(evlist, 128, false) < 0) {
+	if (perf_evlist__mmap(evlist, 128) < 0) {
 		pr_debug("failed to mmap events: %d (%s)\n", errno,
 			 str_error_r(errno, sbuf, sizeof(sbuf)));
 		goto out_delete_evlist;
diff --git a/tools/perf/tests/openat-syscall-tp-fields.c b/tools/perf/tests/openat-syscall-tp-fields.c
index b6ee1c4..f68d818 100644
--- a/tools/perf/tests/openat-syscall-tp-fields.c
+++ b/tools/perf/tests/openat-syscall-tp-fields.c
@@ -63,7 +63,7 @@ int test__syscall_openat_tp_fields(struct test *test __maybe_unused, int subtest
 		goto out_delete_evlist;
 	}
 
-	err = perf_evlist__mmap(evlist, UINT_MAX, false);
+	err = perf_evlist__mmap(evlist, UINT_MAX);
 	if (err < 0) {
 		pr_debug("perf_evlist__mmap: %s\n",
 			 str_error_r(errno, sbuf, sizeof(sbuf)));
diff --git a/tools/perf/tests/perf-record.c b/tools/perf/tests/perf-record.c
index 19b6500..f9fbd8b 100644
--- a/tools/perf/tests/perf-record.c
+++ b/tools/perf/tests/perf-record.c
@@ -140,7 +140,7 @@ int test__PERF_RECORD(struct test *test __maybe_unused, int subtest __maybe_unus
 	 * fds in the same CPU to be injected in the same mmap ring buffer
 	 * (using ioctl(PERF_EVENT_IOC_SET_OUTPUT)).
 	 */
-	err = perf_evlist__mmap(evlist, opts.mmap_pages, false);
+	err = perf_evlist__mmap(evlist, opts.mmap_pages);
 	if (err < 0) {
 		pr_debug("perf_evlist__mmap: %s\n",
 			 str_error_r(errno, sbuf, sizeof(sbuf)));
diff --git a/tools/perf/tests/sw-clock.c b/tools/perf/tests/sw-clock.c
index c468e6c..fd01b24 100644
--- a/tools/perf/tests/sw-clock.c
+++ b/tools/perf/tests/sw-clock.c
@@ -77,7 +77,7 @@ static int __test__sw_clock_freq(enum perf_sw_ids clock_id)
 		goto out_delete_evlist;
 	}
 
-	err = perf_evlist__mmap(evlist, 128, false);
+	err = perf_evlist__mmap(evlist, 128);
 	if (err < 0) {
 		pr_debug("failed to mmap event: %d (%s)\n", errno,
 			 str_error_r(errno, sbuf, sizeof(sbuf)));
diff --git a/tools/perf/tests/switch-tracking.c b/tools/perf/tests/switch-tracking.c
index 2acd785..9fee2a0 100644
--- a/tools/perf/tests/switch-tracking.c
+++ b/tools/perf/tests/switch-tracking.c
@@ -448,7 +448,7 @@ int test__switch_tracking(struct test *test __maybe_unused, int subtest __maybe_
 		goto out;
 	}
 
-	err = perf_evlist__mmap(evlist, UINT_MAX, false);
+	err = perf_evlist__mmap(evlist, UINT_MAX);
 	if (err) {
 		pr_debug("perf_evlist__mmap failed!\n");
 		goto out_err;
diff --git a/tools/perf/tests/task-exit.c b/tools/perf/tests/task-exit.c
index 4fb6609..4ba5a27 100644
--- a/tools/perf/tests/task-exit.c
+++ b/tools/perf/tests/task-exit.c
@@ -96,7 +96,7 @@ int test__task_exit(struct test *test __maybe_unused, int subtest __maybe_unused
 		goto out_delete_evlist;
 	}
 
-	if (perf_evlist__mmap(evlist, 128, false) < 0) {
+	if (perf_evlist__mmap(evlist, 128) < 0) {
 		pr_debug("failed to mmap events: %d (%s)\n", errno,
 			 str_error_r(errno, sbuf, sizeof(sbuf)));
 		goto out_delete_evlist;
diff --git a/tools/perf/util/evlist.c b/tools/perf/util/evlist.c
index 4c5daba..4948d3d 100644
--- a/tools/perf/util/evlist.c
+++ b/tools/perf/util/evlist.c
@@ -711,7 +711,7 @@ union perf_event *perf_evlist__mmap_read_forward(struct perf_evlist *evlist, int
 	 * No need for read-write ring buffer: kernel stop outputting when
 	 * it hit md->prev (perf_mmap__consume()).
 	 */
-	return perf_mmap__read_forward(md, evlist->overwrite);
+	return perf_mmap__read_forward(md, false);
 }
 
 union perf_event *perf_evlist__mmap_read_backward(struct perf_evlist *evlist, int idx)
@@ -738,7 +738,7 @@ void perf_evlist__mmap_read_catchup(struct perf_evlist *evlist, int idx)
 
 void perf_evlist__mmap_consume(struct perf_evlist *evlist, int idx)
 {
-	perf_mmap__consume(&evlist->mmap[idx], evlist->overwrite);
+	perf_mmap__consume(&evlist->mmap[idx], false);
 }
 
 static void perf_evlist__munmap_nofree(struct perf_evlist *evlist)
@@ -1058,14 +1058,14 @@ int perf_evlist__parse_mmap_pages(const struct option *opt, const char *str,
  * Return: %0 on success, negative error code otherwise.
  */
 int perf_evlist__mmap_ex(struct perf_evlist *evlist, unsigned int pages,
-			 bool overwrite, unsigned int auxtrace_pages,
+			 unsigned int auxtrace_pages,
 			 bool auxtrace_overwrite)
 {
 	struct perf_evsel *evsel;
 	const struct cpu_map *cpus = evlist->cpus;
 	const struct thread_map *threads = evlist->threads;
 	struct mmap_params mp = {
-		.prot = PROT_READ | (overwrite ? 0 : PROT_WRITE),
+		.prot = PROT_READ | PROT_WRITE,
 	};
 
 	if (!evlist->mmap)
@@ -1076,7 +1076,6 @@ int perf_evlist__mmap_ex(struct perf_evlist *evlist, unsigned int pages,
 	if (evlist->pollfd.entries == NULL && perf_evlist__alloc_pollfd(evlist) < 0)
 		return -ENOMEM;
 
-	evlist->overwrite = overwrite;
 	evlist->mmap_len = perf_evlist__mmap_size(pages);
 	pr_debug("mmap size %zuB\n", evlist->mmap_len);
 	mp.mask = evlist->mmap_len - page_size - 1;
@@ -1097,10 +1096,9 @@ int perf_evlist__mmap_ex(struct perf_evlist *evlist, unsigned int pages,
 	return perf_evlist__mmap_per_cpu(evlist, &mp);
 }
 
-int perf_evlist__mmap(struct perf_evlist *evlist, unsigned int pages,
-		      bool overwrite)
+int perf_evlist__mmap(struct perf_evlist *evlist, unsigned int pages)
 {
-	return perf_evlist__mmap_ex(evlist, pages, overwrite, 0, false);
+	return perf_evlist__mmap_ex(evlist, pages, 0, false);
 }
 
 int perf_evlist__create_maps(struct perf_evlist *evlist, struct target *target)
diff --git a/tools/perf/util/evlist.h b/tools/perf/util/evlist.h
index 8c433e9..1dd3291 100644
--- a/tools/perf/util/evlist.h
+++ b/tools/perf/util/evlist.h
@@ -30,7 +30,6 @@ struct perf_evlist {
 	int		 nr_entries;
 	int		 nr_groups;
 	int		 nr_mmaps;
-	bool		 overwrite;
 	bool		 enabled;
 	bool		 has_user_cpus;
 	size_t		 mmap_len;
@@ -168,10 +167,9 @@ int perf_evlist__parse_mmap_pages(const struct option *opt,
 unsigned long perf_event_mlock_kb_in_pages(void);
 
 int perf_evlist__mmap_ex(struct perf_evlist *evlist, unsigned int pages,
-			 bool overwrite, unsigned int auxtrace_pages,
+			 unsigned int auxtrace_pages,
 			 bool auxtrace_overwrite);
-int perf_evlist__mmap(struct perf_evlist *evlist, unsigned int pages,
-		      bool overwrite);
+int perf_evlist__mmap(struct perf_evlist *evlist, unsigned int pages);
 void perf_evlist__munmap(struct perf_evlist *evlist);
 
 size_t perf_evlist__mmap_size(unsigned long pages);
diff --git a/tools/perf/util/mmap.c b/tools/perf/util/mmap.c
index 9fe5f9c..703ed41 100644
--- a/tools/perf/util/mmap.c
+++ b/tools/perf/util/mmap.c
@@ -299,7 +299,7 @@ static int rb_find_range(void *data, int mask, u64 head, u64 old,
 	return backward_rb_find_range(data, mask, head, start, end);
 }
 
-int perf_mmap__push(struct perf_mmap *md, bool overwrite, bool backward,
+int perf_mmap__push(struct perf_mmap *md, bool backward,
 		    void *to, int push(void *to, void *buf, size_t size))
 {
 	u64 head = perf_mmap__read_head(md);
@@ -321,7 +321,7 @@ int perf_mmap__push(struct perf_mmap *md, bool overwrite, bool backward,
 		WARN_ONCE(1, "failed to keep up with mmap data. (warn only once)\n");
 
 		md->prev = head;
-		perf_mmap__consume(md, overwrite || backward);
+		perf_mmap__consume(md, backward);
 		return 0;
 	}
 
@@ -346,7 +346,7 @@ int perf_mmap__push(struct perf_mmap *md, bool overwrite, bool backward,
 	}
 
 	md->prev = head;
-	perf_mmap__consume(md, overwrite || backward);
+	perf_mmap__consume(md, backward);
 out:
 	return rc;
 }
diff --git a/tools/perf/util/mmap.h b/tools/perf/util/mmap.h
index efd78b8..2c3d291 100644
--- a/tools/perf/util/mmap.h
+++ b/tools/perf/util/mmap.h
@@ -89,7 +89,7 @@ static inline void perf_mmap__write_tail(struct perf_mmap *md, u64 tail)
 union perf_event *perf_mmap__read_forward(struct perf_mmap *map, bool check_messup);
 union perf_event *perf_mmap__read_backward(struct perf_mmap *map);
 
-int perf_mmap__push(struct perf_mmap *md, bool overwrite, bool backward,
+int perf_mmap__push(struct perf_mmap *md, bool backward,
 		    void *to, int push(void *to, void *buf, size_t size));
 
 size_t perf_mmap__mmap_len(struct perf_mmap *map);
diff --git a/tools/perf/util/python.c b/tools/perf/util/python.c
index c129e99..ece33b4 100644
--- a/tools/perf/util/python.c
+++ b/tools/perf/util/python.c
@@ -856,14 +856,14 @@ static PyObject *pyrf_evlist__mmap(struct pyrf_evlist *pevlist,
 				   PyObject *args, PyObject *kwargs)
 {
 	struct perf_evlist *evlist = &pevlist->evlist;
-	static char *kwlist[] = { "pages", "overwrite", NULL };
-	int pages = 128, overwrite = false;
+	static char *kwlist[] = { "pages", NULL };
+	int pages = 128;
 
-	if (!PyArg_ParseTupleAndKeywords(args, kwargs, "|ii", kwlist,
-					 &pages, &overwrite))
+	if (!PyArg_ParseTupleAndKeywords(args, kwargs, "|i", kwlist,
+					 &pages))
 		return NULL;
 
-	if (perf_evlist__mmap(evlist, pages, overwrite) < 0) {
+	if (perf_evlist__mmap(evlist, pages) < 0) {
 		PyErr_SetFromErrno(PyExc_OSError);
 		return NULL;
 	}
