diff --git a/repos/base-nova/src/lib/base/perf.cc b/repos/base-nova/src/lib/base/perf.cc
index 242a3228e7..fd51679e4d 100644
--- a/repos/base-nova/src/lib/base/perf.cc
+++ b/repos/base-nova/src/lib/base/perf.cc
@@ -46,7 +46,7 @@ void Genode::Trace::Performance_counter::start(unsigned counter)
 {
     Nova::uint8_t rc;
     Nova::mword_t type = (counter >> 4);
-    Nova::mword_t sel = type == Performance_counter::CORE ? counter : counter >>4;
+    Nova::mword_t sel = type == Performance_counter::CORE ? counter : counter & 0xf;
 
     if ((rc = Nova::hpc_start(sel, type)) != Nova::NOVA_OK)
         throw  Genode::Trace::Pfc_access_error(rc);