diff --git a/link/kprobe.go b/link/kprobe.go
index 50e9e2398..904fe3062 100644
--- a/link/kprobe.go
+++ b/link/kprobe.go
@@ -99,13 +99,13 @@ func Kprobe(symbol string, prog *ebpf.Program, opts *KprobeOptions) (Link, error
 		return nil, err
 	}
 
-	err = k.attach(prog)
+	lnk, err := attachPerfEvent(k, prog)
 	if err != nil {
 		k.Close()
 		return nil, err
 	}
 
-	return k, nil
+	return lnk, nil
 }
 
 // Kretprobe attaches the given eBPF program to a perf event that fires right
@@ -123,13 +123,13 @@ func Kretprobe(symbol string, prog *ebpf.Program, opts *KprobeOptions) (Link, er
 		return nil, err
 	}
 
-	err = k.attach(prog)
+	lnk, err := attachPerfEvent(k, prog)
 	if err != nil {
 		k.Close()
 		return nil, err
 	}
 
-	return k, nil
+	return lnk, nil
 }
 
 // kprobe opens a perf event on the given symbol and attaches prog to it.
@@ -282,11 +282,11 @@ func pmuProbe(typ probeType, args probeArgs) (*perfEvent, error) {
 
 	// Kernel has perf_[k,u]probe PMU available, initialize perf event.
 	return &perfEvent{
-		fd:     fd,
-		pmuID:  et,
-		name:   args.symbol,
 		typ:    typ.PerfEventType(args.ret),
+		name:   args.symbol,
+		pmuID:  et,
 		cookie: args.cookie,
+		fd:     fd,
 	}, nil
 }
 
@@ -341,12 +341,12 @@ func tracefsProbe(typ probeType, args probeArgs) (*perfEvent, error) {
 	}
 
 	return &perfEvent{
-		fd:        fd,
+		typ:       typ.PerfEventType(args.ret),
 		group:     group,
 		name:      args.symbol,
 		tracefsID: tid,
-		typ:       typ.PerfEventType(args.ret),
 		cookie:    args.cookie,
+		fd:        fd,
 	}, nil
 }
 
diff --git a/link/link.go b/link/link.go
index 3aa49a68e..e033cd46a 100644
--- a/link/link.go
+++ b/link/link.go
@@ -325,11 +325,13 @@ func (l *RawLink) Info() (*Info, error) {
 		extra = &TracingInfo{}
 	case XDPType:
 		extra = &XDPInfo{}
+	case PerfEventType:
+		// no extra
 	default:
 		return nil, fmt.Errorf("unknown link info type: %d", info.Type)
 	}
 
-	if info.Type != RawTracepointType && info.Type != IterType {
+	if info.Type != RawTracepointType && info.Type != IterType && info.Type != PerfEventType {
 		buf := bytes.NewReader(info.Extra[:])
 		err := binary.Read(buf, internal.NativeEndian, extra)
 		if err != nil {
diff --git a/link/perf_event.go b/link/perf_event.go
index 9b0d042e0..fcca8b959 100644
--- a/link/perf_event.go
+++ b/link/perf_event.go
@@ -71,6 +71,8 @@ const (
 // can be attached to it. It is created based on a tracefs trace event or a
 // Performance Monitoring Unit (PMU).
 type perfEvent struct {
+	// The event type determines the types of programs that can be attached.
+	typ perfEventType
 
 	// Group and name of the tracepoint/kprobe/uprobe.
 	group string
@@ -81,68 +83,18 @@ type perfEvent struct {
 	// ID of the trace event read from tracefs. Valid IDs are non-zero.
 	tracefsID uint64
 
-	// The event type determines the types of programs that can be attached.
-	typ perfEventType
-
 	// User provided arbitrary value.
 	cookie uint64
 
-	// This is the proper perf event FD.
+	// This is the perf event FD.
 	fd *sys.FD
-	// If bpf perf link is available, this is the bpf link FD.
-	bpfLinkFD *sys.FD
-}
-
-func (pe *perfEvent) isLink() {}
-
-func (pe *perfEvent) Pin(string) error {
-	return fmt.Errorf("pin perf event: %w", ErrNotSupported)
-}
-
-func (pe *perfEvent) Unpin() error {
-	return fmt.Errorf("unpin perf event: %w", ErrNotSupported)
-}
-
-// Since 4.15 (e87c6bc3852b "bpf: permit multiple bpf attachments for a single perf event"),
-// calling PERF_EVENT_IOC_SET_BPF appends the given program to a prog_array
-// owned by the perf event, which means multiple programs can be attached
-// simultaneously.
-//
-// Before 4.15, calling PERF_EVENT_IOC_SET_BPF more than once on a perf event
-// returns EEXIST.
-//
-// Detaching a program from a perf event is currently not possible, so a
-// program replacement mechanism cannot be implemented for perf events.
-func (pe *perfEvent) Update(prog *ebpf.Program) error {
-	return fmt.Errorf("can't replace eBPF program in perf event: %w", ErrNotSupported)
-}
-
-func (pe *perfEvent) Info() (*Info, error) {
-	return nil, fmt.Errorf("can't get perf event info: %w", ErrNotSupported)
 }
 
 func (pe *perfEvent) Close() error {
-	if pe.fd == nil {
-		return nil
-	}
-
-	err := unix.IoctlSetInt(pe.fd.Int(), unix.PERF_EVENT_IOC_DISABLE, 0)
-	if err != nil {
-		return fmt.Errorf("disabling perf event: %w", err)
-	}
-
-	err = pe.fd.Close()
-	if err != nil {
+	if err := pe.fd.Close(); err != nil {
 		return fmt.Errorf("closing perf event fd: %w", err)
 	}
 
-	if pe.bpfLinkFD != nil {
-		err = pe.bpfLinkFD.Close()
-		if err != nil {
-			return fmt.Errorf("closing bpf perf link fd: %w", err)
-		}
-	}
-
 	switch pe.typ {
 	case kprobeEvent, kretprobeEvent:
 		// Clean up kprobe tracefs entry.
@@ -162,70 +114,160 @@ func (pe *perfEvent) Close() error {
 	return nil
 }
 
+// perfEventLink represents a bpf perf link.
+type perfEventLink struct {
+	RawLink
+	pe *perfEvent
+}
+
+func (pl *perfEventLink) isLink() {}
+
+// Pinning requires the underlying perf event FD to stay open.
+//
+// | PerfEvent FD | BpfLink FD | Works |
+// |--------------|------------|-------|
+// | Open         | Open       | Yes   |
+// | Closed       | Open       | No    |
+// | Open         | Closed     | No (Pin() -> EINVAL) |
+// | Closed       | Closed     | No (Pin() -> EINVAL) |
+//
+// There is currently no pretty way to recover the perf event FD
+// when loading a pinned link, so leave as not supported for now.
+func (pl *perfEventLink) Pin(string) error {
+	return fmt.Errorf("perf event link pin: %w", ErrNotSupported)
+}
+
+func (pl *perfEventLink) Unpin() error {
+	return fmt.Errorf("perf event link unpin: %w", ErrNotSupported)
+}
+
+func (pl *perfEventLink) Close() error {
+	if err := pl.pe.Close(); err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("perf event link close: %w", err)
+	}
+	return pl.fd.Close()
+}
+
+func (pl *perfEventLink) Update(prog *ebpf.Program) error {
+	return fmt.Errorf("perf event link update: %w", ErrNotSupported)
+}
+
+// perfEventIoctl implements Link and handles the perf event lifecycle
+// via ioctl().
+type perfEventIoctl struct {
+	*perfEvent
+}
+
+func (pi *perfEventIoctl) isLink() {}
+
+// Since 4.15 (e87c6bc3852b "bpf: permit multiple bpf attachments for a single perf event"),
+// calling PERF_EVENT_IOC_SET_BPF appends the given program to a prog_array
+// owned by the perf event, which means multiple programs can be attached
+// simultaneously.
+//
+// Before 4.15, calling PERF_EVENT_IOC_SET_BPF more than once on a perf event
+// returns EEXIST.
+//
+// Detaching a program from a perf event is currently not possible, so a
+// program replacement mechanism cannot be implemented for perf events.
+func (pi *perfEventIoctl) Update(prog *ebpf.Program) error {
+	return fmt.Errorf("perf event ioctl update: %w", ErrNotSupported)
+}
+
+func (pi *perfEventIoctl) Pin(string) error {
+	return fmt.Errorf("perf event ioctl pin: %w", ErrNotSupported)
+}
+
+func (pi *perfEventIoctl) Unpin() error {
+	return fmt.Errorf("perf event ioctl unpin: %w", ErrNotSupported)
+}
+
+func (pi *perfEventIoctl) Info() (*Info, error) {
+	return nil, fmt.Errorf("perf event ioctl info: %w", ErrNotSupported)
+}
+
 // attach the given eBPF prog to the perf event stored in pe.
 // pe must contain a valid perf event fd.
 // prog's type must match the program type stored in pe.
-func (pe *perfEvent) attach(prog *ebpf.Program) error {
+func attachPerfEvent(pe *perfEvent, prog *ebpf.Program) (Link, error) {
 	if prog == nil {
-		return errors.New("cannot attach a nil program")
-	}
-	if pe.fd == nil {
-		return errors.New("cannot attach to nil perf event")
+		return nil, errors.New("cannot attach a nil program")
 	}
 	if prog.FD() < 0 {
-		return fmt.Errorf("invalid program: %w", sys.ErrClosedFd)
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("invalid program: %w", sys.ErrClosedFd)
 	}
+
 	switch pe.typ {
 	case kprobeEvent, kretprobeEvent, uprobeEvent, uretprobeEvent:
 		if t := prog.Type(); t != ebpf.Kprobe {
-			return fmt.Errorf("invalid program type (expected %s): %s", ebpf.Kprobe, t)
+			return nil, fmt.Errorf("invalid program type (expected %s): %s", ebpf.Kprobe, t)
 		}
 	case tracepointEvent:
 		if t := prog.Type(); t != ebpf.TracePoint {
-			return fmt.Errorf("invalid program type (expected %s): %s", ebpf.TracePoint, t)
+			return nil, fmt.Errorf("invalid program type (expected %s): %s", ebpf.TracePoint, t)
 		}
 	default:
-		return fmt.Errorf("unknown perf event type: %d", pe.typ)
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("unknown perf event type: %d", pe.typ)
 	}
 
-	pfd := pe.fd
-
 	if err := haveBPFLinkPerfEvent(); err == nil {
-		// Use the bpf api to attach the perf event (BPF_LINK_TYPE_PERF_EVENT, 5.15+).
-		//
-		// https://github.com/torvalds/linux/commit/b89fbfbb854c9afc3047e8273cc3a694650b802e
-		attr := sys.LinkCreatePerfEventAttr{
-			ProgFd:     uint32(prog.FD()),
-			TargetFd:   pfd.Uint(),
-			AttachType: sys.BPF_PERF_EVENT,
-			BpfCookie:  pe.cookie,
-		}
-
-		fd, err := sys.LinkCreatePerfEvent(&attr)
+		lnk, err := attachPerfEventLink(pe, prog)
 		if err != nil {
-			return fmt.Errorf("cannot create bpf perf link: %v", err)
-		}
-		pe.bpfLinkFD = fd
-	} else {
-		if pe.cookie != 0 {
-			return fmt.Errorf("bpf cookies are not available: %w", ErrNotSupported)
+			return nil, err
 		}
+		return lnk, nil
+	}
 
-		// Assign the eBPF program to the perf event.
-		err := unix.IoctlSetInt(pfd.Int(), unix.PERF_EVENT_IOC_SET_BPF, prog.FD())
-		if err != nil {
-			return fmt.Errorf("setting perf event bpf program: %w", err)
-		}
+	lnk, err := attachPerfEventIoctl(pe, prog)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+
+	return lnk, nil
+}
+
+func attachPerfEventIoctl(pe *perfEvent, prog *ebpf.Program) (*perfEventIoctl, error) {
+	if pe.cookie != 0 {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("cookies are not supported: %w", ErrNotSupported)
+	}
+
+	// Assign the eBPF program to the perf event.
+	err := unix.IoctlSetInt(pe.fd.Int(), unix.PERF_EVENT_IOC_SET_BPF, prog.FD())
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("setting perf event bpf program: %w", err)
 	}
 
 	// PERF_EVENT_IOC_ENABLE and _DISABLE ignore their given values.
-	if err := unix.IoctlSetInt(pfd.Int(), unix.PERF_EVENT_IOC_ENABLE, 0); err != nil {
-		return fmt.Errorf("enable perf event: %s", err)
+	if err := unix.IoctlSetInt(pe.fd.Int(), unix.PERF_EVENT_IOC_ENABLE, 0); err != nil {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("enable perf event: %s", err)
 	}
 
+	pi := &perfEventIoctl{pe}
+
 	// Close the perf event when its reference is lost to avoid leaking system resources.
-	runtime.SetFinalizer(pe, (*perfEvent).Close)
-	return nil
+	runtime.SetFinalizer(pi, (*perfEventIoctl).Close)
+	return pi, nil
+}
+
+// Use the bpf api to attach the perf event (BPF_LINK_TYPE_PERF_EVENT, 5.15+).
+//
+// https://github.com/torvalds/linux/commit/b89fbfbb854c9afc3047e8273cc3a694650b802e
+func attachPerfEventLink(pe *perfEvent, prog *ebpf.Program) (*perfEventLink, error) {
+	fd, err := sys.LinkCreatePerfEvent(&sys.LinkCreatePerfEventAttr{
+		ProgFd:     uint32(prog.FD()),
+		TargetFd:   pe.fd.Uint(),
+		AttachType: sys.BPF_PERF_EVENT,
+		BpfCookie:  pe.cookie,
+	})
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("cannot create bpf perf link: %v", err)
+	}
+
+	pl := &perfEventLink{RawLink{fd: fd}, pe}
+
+	// Close the perf event when its reference is lost to avoid leaking system resources.
+	runtime.SetFinalizer(pl, (*perfEventLink).Close)
+	return pl, nil
 }
 
 // unsafeStringPtr returns an unsafe.Pointer to a NUL-terminated copy of str.
diff --git a/link/syscalls.go b/link/syscalls.go
index 072dfade2..5802f8927 100644
--- a/link/syscalls.go
+++ b/link/syscalls.go
@@ -22,6 +22,7 @@ const (
 	IterType          = sys.BPF_LINK_TYPE_ITER
 	NetNsType         = sys.BPF_LINK_TYPE_NETNS
 	XDPType           = sys.BPF_LINK_TYPE_XDP
+	PerfEventType     = sys.BPF_LINK_TYPE_PERF_EVENT
 )
 
 var haveProgAttach = internal.FeatureTest("BPF_PROG_ATTACH", "4.10", func() error {
diff --git a/link/tracepoint.go b/link/tracepoint.go
index 8b5eaa92f..3c7239ee0 100644
--- a/link/tracepoint.go
+++ b/link/tracepoint.go
@@ -53,21 +53,25 @@ func Tracepoint(group, name string, prog *ebpf.Program, opts *TracepointOptions)
 		return nil, err
 	}
 
+	var cookie uint64
+	if opts != nil {
+		cookie = opts.Cookie
+	}
+
 	pe := &perfEvent{
-		fd:        fd,
-		tracefsID: tid,
+		typ:       tracepointEvent,
 		group:     group,
 		name:      name,
-		typ:       tracepointEvent,
-	}
-	if opts != nil {
-		pe.cookie = opts.Cookie
+		tracefsID: tid,
+		cookie:    cookie,
+		fd:        fd,
 	}
 
-	if err := pe.attach(prog); err != nil {
+	lnk, err := attachPerfEvent(pe, prog)
+	if err != nil {
 		pe.Close()
 		return nil, err
 	}
 
-	return pe, nil
+	return lnk, nil
 }
diff --git a/link/uprobe.go b/link/uprobe.go
index eda11fcd5..065d2138f 100644
--- a/link/uprobe.go
+++ b/link/uprobe.go
@@ -202,13 +202,13 @@ func (ex *Executable) Uprobe(symbol string, prog *ebpf.Program, opts *UprobeOpti
 		return nil, err
 	}
 
-	err = u.attach(prog)
+	lnk, err := attachPerfEvent(u, prog)
 	if err != nil {
 		u.Close()
 		return nil, err
 	}
 
-	return u, nil
+	return lnk, nil
 }
 
 // Uretprobe attaches the given eBPF program to a perf event that fires right
@@ -234,13 +234,13 @@ func (ex *Executable) Uretprobe(symbol string, prog *ebpf.Program, opts *UprobeO
 		return nil, err
 	}
 
-	err = u.attach(prog)
+	lnk, err := attachPerfEvent(u, prog)
 	if err != nil {
 		u.Close()
 		return nil, err
 	}
 
-	return u, nil
+	return lnk, nil
 }
 
 // uprobe opens a perf event for the given binary/symbol and attaches prog to it.