diff --git a/tools/perf/tests/dso-data.c b/tools/perf/tests/dso-data.c
index caaf37f079b1..22a8c428283a 100644
--- a/tools/perf/tests/dso-data.c
+++ b/tools/perf/tests/dso-data.c
@@ -243,8 +243,8 @@ int test__dso_data_cache(void)
 	limit = nr * 4;
 	TEST_ASSERT_VAL("failed to set file limit", !set_fd_limit(limit));
 
-	/* and this is now our dso open FDs limit + 1 extra */
-	dso_cnt = limit / 2 + 1;
+	/* and this is now our dso open FDs limit */
+	dso_cnt = limit / 2;
 	TEST_ASSERT_VAL("failed to create dsos\n",
 		!dsos__create(dso_cnt, TEST_FILE_SIZE));
 
@@ -268,7 +268,10 @@ int test__dso_data_cache(void)
 		}
 	}
 
-	/* open +1 dso over the allowed limit */
+	/* verify the first one is already open */
+	TEST_ASSERT_VAL("dsos[0] is not open", dsos[0]->data.fd != -1);
+
+	/* open +1 dso to reach the allowed limit */
 	fd = dso__data_fd(dsos[i], &machine);
 	TEST_ASSERT_VAL("failed to get fd", fd > 0);