diff --git a/cmd/metrics/metrics.go b/cmd/metrics/metrics.go
index b2b01c85..e203faff 100644
--- a/cmd/metrics/metrics.go
+++ b/cmd/metrics/metrics.go
@@ -806,6 +806,27 @@ func prepareTarget(targetContext *targetContext, targetTempRoot string, localTem
 		channelError <- targetError{target: myTarget, err: err}
 		return
 	}
+	// make sure PMUs are not in use on target
+	if family, err := myTarget.GetFamily(); err == nil && family == "6" {
+		output, err := script.RunScript(myTarget, script.GetScriptByName(script.PMUBusyScriptName), localTempDir)
+		if err != nil {
+			err = fmt.Errorf("failed to check if PMUs are in use: %w", err)
+			_ = statusUpdate(myTarget.GetName(), fmt.Sprintf("Error: %v", err))
+			targetContext.err = err
+			channelError <- targetError{target: myTarget, err: err}
+			return
+		}
+		for _, line := range strings.Split(output.Stdout, "\n") {
+			// if one of the MSR registers is active (ignore cpu_cycles), then the PMU is in use
+			if strings.Contains(line, "Active") && !strings.Contains(line, "0x30a") {
+				err = fmt.Errorf("PMU in use on target: %s", line)
+				_ = statusUpdate(myTarget.GetName(), fmt.Sprintf("Error: %v", err))
+				targetContext.err = err
+				channelError <- targetError{target: myTarget, err: err}
+				return
+			}
+		}
+	}
 	// check if NMI watchdog is enabled and disable it if necessary
 	if !flagNoRoot {
 		var nmiWatchdogEnabled bool