diff --git a/tools/testing/selftests/resctrl/resctrl_val.c b/tools/testing/selftests/resctrl/resctrl_val.c
index aed71fd0713b4..5478c23c62ba2 100644
--- a/tools/testing/selftests/resctrl/resctrl_val.c
+++ b/tools/testing/selftests/resctrl/resctrl_val.c
@@ -221,8 +221,8 @@ static int read_from_imc_dir(char *imc_dir, int count)
  */
 static int num_of_imcs(void)
 {
+	char imc_dir[512], *temp;
 	unsigned int count = 0;
-	char imc_dir[512];
 	struct dirent *ep;
 	int ret;
 	DIR *dp;
@@ -230,7 +230,25 @@ static int num_of_imcs(void)
 	dp = opendir(DYN_PMU_PATH);
 	if (dp) {
 		while ((ep = readdir(dp))) {
-			if (strstr(ep->d_name, UNCORE_IMC)) {
+			temp = strstr(ep->d_name, UNCORE_IMC);
+			if (!temp)
+				continue;
+
+			/*
+			 * imc counters are named as "uncore_imc_<n>", hence
+			 * increment the pointer to point to <n>. Note that
+			 * sizeof(UNCORE_IMC) would count for null character as
+			 * well and hence the last underscore character in
+			 * uncore_imc'_' need not be counted.
+			 */
+			temp = temp + sizeof(UNCORE_IMC);
+
+			/*
+			 * Some directories under "DYN_PMU_PATH" could have
+			 * names like "uncore_imc_free_running", hence, check if
+			 * first character is a numerical digit or not.
+			 */
+			if (temp[0] >= '0' && temp[0] <= '9') {
 				sprintf(imc_dir, "%s/%s/", DYN_PMU_PATH,
 					ep->d_name);
 				ret = read_from_imc_dir(imc_dir, count);