diff --git a/include/lo2s/perf/bio/writer.hpp b/include/lo2s/perf/bio/writer.hpp
index e9eed62a..ff259b35 100644
--- a/include/lo2s/perf/bio/writer.hpp
+++ b/include/lo2s/perf/bio/writer.hpp
@@ -82,7 +82,7 @@ class Writer
 
     void write(IoReaderIdentity& identity, TracepointSampleType* header)
     {
-        if (identity.tracepoint == bio_queue_)
+        if (identity.tracepoint() == bio_queue_)
         {
             struct RecordBioQueue* event = (RecordBioQueue*)header;
 
@@ -112,7 +112,7 @@ class Writer
                 time_converter_(event->header.time), handle, mode,
                 otf2::common::io_operation_flag_type::non_blocking, size, event->sector);
         }
-        else if (identity.tracepoint == bio_issue_)
+        else if (identity.tracepoint() == bio_issue_)
         {
             struct RecordBlock* event = (RecordBlock*)header;
 
@@ -129,7 +129,7 @@ class Writer
             writer << otf2::event::io_operation_issued(time_converter_(event->header.time), handle,
                                                        event->sector);
         }
-        else if (identity.tracepoint == bio_complete_)
+        else if (identity.tracepoint() == bio_complete_)
         {
             struct RecordBlock* event = (RecordBlock*)header;
 
@@ -150,7 +150,7 @@ class Writer
         }
         else
         {
-            throw std::runtime_error("tracepoint " + identity.tracepoint.name() +
+            throw std::runtime_error("tracepoint " + identity.tracepoint().name() +
                                      " not valid for block I/O");
         }
     }
@@ -164,7 +164,7 @@ class Writer
         bio_complete_ =
             perf::EventProvider::instance().create_tracepoint_event("block:block_rq_complete");
 
-        return { bio_queue_, bio_issue_, bio_complete_ };
+        return { bio_queue_.value(), bio_issue_.value(), bio_complete_.value() };
     }
 
 private:
@@ -185,9 +185,9 @@ class Writer
     time::Converter& time_converter_;
 
     // Unavailable until get_tracepoints() is called
-    perf::tracepoint::TracepointEvent bio_queue_;
-    perf::tracepoint::TracepointEvent bio_issue_;
-    perf::tracepoint::TracepointEvent bio_complete_;
+    std::optional<perf::tracepoint::TracepointEvent> bio_queue_;
+    std::optional<perf::tracepoint::TracepointEvent> bio_issue_;
+    std::optional<perf::tracepoint::TracepointEvent> bio_complete_;
 
     // The unit "sector" is always 512 bit large, regardless of the actual sector size of the device
     static constexpr int SECTOR_SIZE = 512;
diff --git a/include/lo2s/perf/counter/counter_collection.hpp b/include/lo2s/perf/counter/counter_collection.hpp
index d6bf6f0f..f0269ed9 100644
--- a/include/lo2s/perf/counter/counter_collection.hpp
+++ b/include/lo2s/perf/counter/counter_collection.hpp
@@ -23,6 +23,7 @@
 
 #include <lo2s/perf/event.hpp>
 
+#include <optional>
 #include <vector>
 
 namespace lo2s
@@ -33,14 +34,14 @@ namespace counter
 {
 struct CounterCollection
 {
-    Event leader;
+    std::optional<Event> leader_;
     std::vector<Event> counters;
 
     double get_scale(int index) const
     {
         if (index == 0)
         {
-            return leader.scale();
+            return leader_.value().scale();
         }
         else
         {
@@ -48,9 +49,14 @@ struct CounterCollection
         }
     }
 
+    Event& leader() const
+    {
+        return const_cast<Event&>(leader_.value());
+    }
+
     friend bool operator==(const CounterCollection& lhs, const CounterCollection& rhs)
     {
-        if (lhs.leader == rhs.leader)
+        if (lhs.leader_.value() == rhs.leader_.value())
         {
             return lhs.counters == rhs.counters;
         }
@@ -59,11 +65,11 @@ struct CounterCollection
 
     friend bool operator<(const CounterCollection& lhs, const CounterCollection& rhs)
     {
-        if (lhs.leader == rhs.leader)
+        if (lhs.leader_.value() == rhs.leader_.value())
         {
             return lhs.counters < rhs.counters;
         }
-        return lhs.leader < rhs.leader;
+        return lhs.leader_.value() < rhs.leader_.value();
     }
 };
 
diff --git a/include/lo2s/perf/counter/counter_provider.hpp b/include/lo2s/perf/counter/counter_provider.hpp
index 3071e225..662bd84c 100644
--- a/include/lo2s/perf/counter/counter_provider.hpp
+++ b/include/lo2s/perf/counter/counter_provider.hpp
@@ -25,6 +25,7 @@
 #include <lo2s/perf/counter/counter_collection.hpp>
 #include <lo2s/perf/tracepoint/event.hpp>
 
+#include <optional>
 #include <vector>
 
 namespace lo2s
@@ -58,7 +59,7 @@ class CounterProvider
     std::vector<std::string> get_tracepoint_event_names();
 
 private:
-    Event group_leader_;
+    std::optional<Event> group_leader_;
     std::vector<Event> group_events_;
     std::vector<Event> userspace_events_;
     std::vector<tracepoint::TracepointEvent> tracepoint_events_;
diff --git a/include/lo2s/perf/event.hpp b/include/lo2s/perf/event.hpp
index 06d65c10..78f5607f 100644
--- a/include/lo2s/perf/event.hpp
+++ b/include/lo2s/perf/event.hpp
@@ -74,7 +74,6 @@ class Event
 public:
     Event(const std::string& name, perf_type_id type, std::uint64_t config,
           std::uint64_t config1 = 0);
-    Event();
 
     /**
      * returns an opened instance of any Event object
@@ -214,9 +213,9 @@ class Event
 class SysfsEvent : public Event
 {
 public:
-    using Event::Event;
     SysfsEvent(const std::string& ev_name, bool enable_on_exec = false);
 
+    void make_invalid();
     void use_sampling_options(const bool& use_pebs, const bool& sampling, const bool& enable_cct);
 };
 
diff --git a/include/lo2s/perf/io_reader.hpp b/include/lo2s/perf/io_reader.hpp
index 98797ca2..6003b026 100644
--- a/include/lo2s/perf/io_reader.hpp
+++ b/include/lo2s/perf/io_reader.hpp
@@ -63,17 +63,22 @@ struct IoReaderIdentity
 {
     IoReaderIdentity(std::string tracepoint_name, Cpu cpu) : cpu(cpu)
     {
-        tracepoint = EventProvider::instance().create_tracepoint_event(tracepoint_name);
+        tracepoint_.value() = EventProvider::instance().create_tracepoint_event(tracepoint_name);
     }
 
-    tracepoint::TracepointEvent tracepoint;
+    std::optional<tracepoint::TracepointEvent> tracepoint_;
     Cpu cpu;
 
+    tracepoint::TracepointEvent tracepoint()
+    {
+        return tracepoint_.value();
+    }
+
     friend bool operator>(const IoReaderIdentity& lhs, const IoReaderIdentity& rhs)
     {
         if (lhs.cpu == rhs.cpu)
         {
-            return lhs.tracepoint > rhs.tracepoint;
+            return lhs.tracepoint_.value() > rhs.tracepoint_.value();
         }
 
         return lhs.cpu > rhs.cpu;
@@ -83,7 +88,7 @@ struct IoReaderIdentity
     {
         if (lhs.cpu == rhs.cpu)
         {
-            return lhs.tracepoint < rhs.tracepoint;
+            return lhs.tracepoint_.value() < rhs.tracepoint_.value();
         }
 
         return lhs.cpu < rhs.cpu;
@@ -97,7 +102,7 @@ class IoReader : public PullReader
     {
         try
         {
-            event_ = identity_.tracepoint.open(identity.cpu);
+            event_ = identity_.tracepoint().open(identity.cpu);
         }
         catch (const std::system_error& e)
         {
diff --git a/include/lo2s/perf/tracepoint/event.hpp b/include/lo2s/perf/tracepoint/event.hpp
index 0b0b9368..ffc7001a 100644
--- a/include/lo2s/perf/tracepoint/event.hpp
+++ b/include/lo2s/perf/tracepoint/event.hpp
@@ -46,10 +46,6 @@ class TracepointEvent : public Event
         ParseError(const std::string& what, int error_code);
     };
 
-    TracepointEvent() : id_(-1)
-    {
-    }
-
     TracepointEvent(const std::string& name, bool enable_on_exec = false);
 
     void parse_format();
diff --git a/include/lo2s/trace/trace.hpp b/include/lo2s/trace/trace.hpp
index 5da43324..2a4f7cc9 100644
--- a/include/lo2s/trace/trace.hpp
+++ b/include/lo2s/trace/trace.hpp
@@ -247,7 +247,7 @@ class Trace
 
         if (scope.type == MeasurementScopeType::GROUP_METRIC)
         {
-            metric_class.add_member(get_event_metric_member(counter_collection.leader));
+            metric_class.add_member(get_event_metric_member(counter_collection.leader()));
         }
 
         for (const auto& counter : counter_collection.counters)
diff --git a/src/perf/counter/counter_provider.cpp b/src/perf/counter/counter_provider.cpp
index 5b0b20b7..eb6922c5 100644
--- a/src/perf/counter/counter_provider.cpp
+++ b/src/perf/counter/counter_provider.cpp
@@ -122,7 +122,7 @@ void CounterProvider::initialize_group_counters(const std::string& leader,
         try
         {
             // skip event if it has already been declared as group leader
-            if (ev == group_leader_.name())
+            if (ev == group_leader_.value().name())
             {
                 Log::info() << "'" << ev
                             << "' has been requested as both the metric leader event and a regular "
@@ -150,9 +150,9 @@ CounterCollection CounterProvider::collection_for(MeasurementScope scope)
     CounterCollection res;
     if (scope.type == MeasurementScopeType::GROUP_METRIC)
     {
-        if (group_leader_.is_available_in(scope.scope))
+        if (group_leader_.value().is_available_in(scope.scope))
         {
-            res.leader = group_leader_;
+            res.leader() = group_leader_.value();
             for (auto& ev : group_events_)
             {
                 if (ev.is_available_in(scope.scope))
@@ -219,7 +219,7 @@ bool CounterProvider::has_group_counters(ExecutionScope scope)
     }
     else
     {
-        return group_leader_.is_available_in(scope) &&
+        return group_leader_.value().is_available_in(scope) &&
                std::any_of(group_events_.begin(), group_events_.end(),
                            [scope](const auto& ev) { return ev.is_available_in(scope); });
     }
diff --git a/src/perf/counter/group/reader.cpp b/src/perf/counter/group/reader.cpp
index 4445b358..39d0dd45 100644
--- a/src/perf/counter/group/reader.cpp
+++ b/src/perf/counter/group/reader.cpp
@@ -55,11 +55,11 @@ Reader<T>::Reader(ExecutionScope scope, bool enable_on_exec)
 {
     if (config().metric_use_frequency)
     {
-        counter_collection_.leader.sample_freq(config().metric_frequency);
+        counter_collection_.leader().sample_freq(config().metric_frequency);
     }
     else
     {
-        counter_collection_.leader.sample_period(config().metric_count);
+        counter_collection_.leader().sample_period(config().metric_count);
     }
 
     do
@@ -67,15 +67,15 @@ Reader<T>::Reader(ExecutionScope scope, bool enable_on_exec)
         try
         {
             counter_leader_ =
-                counter_collection_.leader.open_as_group_leader(scope, config().cgroup_fd);
+                counter_collection_.leader().open_as_group_leader(scope, config().cgroup_fd);
         }
         catch (const std::system_error& e)
         {
             // perf_try_event_open was used here before
             if (counter_leader_.value().get_fd() < 0 && errno == EACCES &&
-                !counter_collection_.leader.attr().exclude_kernel && perf_event_paranoid() > 1)
+                !counter_collection_.leader().attr().exclude_kernel && perf_event_paranoid() > 1)
             {
-                counter_collection_.leader.mut_attr().exclude_kernel = 1;
+                counter_collection_.leader().mut_attr().exclude_kernel = 1;
                 perf_warn_paranoid();
 
                 continue;
@@ -89,14 +89,16 @@ Reader<T>::Reader(ExecutionScope scope, bool enable_on_exec)
         }
     } while (!counter_leader_.value().is_valid());
 
-    Log::debug() << "counter::Reader: leader event: '" << counter_collection_.leader.name() << "'";
+    Log::debug() << "counter::Reader: leader event: '" << counter_collection_.leader().name()
+                 << "'";
 
     for (auto& counter_ev : counter_collection_.counters)
     {
         if (counter_ev.is_available_in(scope))
         {
             std::optional<EventGuard> counter = std::nullopt;
-            counter_ev.mut_attr().exclude_kernel = counter_collection_.leader.attr().exclude_kernel;
+            counter_ev.mut_attr().exclude_kernel =
+                counter_collection_.leader().attr().exclude_kernel;
 
             try
             {
diff --git a/src/perf/event.cpp b/src/perf/event.cpp
index 69b03cee..5fb3305a 100644
--- a/src/perf/event.cpp
+++ b/src/perf/event.cpp
@@ -112,19 +112,6 @@ static constexpr std::uint64_t apply_mask(std::uint64_t value, std::uint64_t mas
     return res;
 }
 
-Event::Event() : name_("")
-{
-    memset(&attr_, 0, sizeof(attr_));
-    attr_.size = sizeof(attr_);
-    attr_.type = PERF_TYPE_RAW;
-
-    attr_.config = 0;
-    attr_.config1 = 0;
-
-    attr_.sample_period = 0;
-    attr_.exclude_kernel = 1;
-}
-
 Event::Event(const std::string& name, perf_type_id type, std::uint64_t config,
              std::uint64_t config1)
 : name_(name)
@@ -361,7 +348,8 @@ bool Event::degrade_precision()
     }
 }
 
-SysfsEvent::SysfsEvent(const std::string& ev_name, bool enable_on_exec) : Event()
+SysfsEvent::SysfsEvent(const std::string& ev_name, bool enable_on_exec)
+: Event(ev_name, static_cast<perf_type_id>(0), 0)
 {
     set_common_attrs(enable_on_exec);
 
@@ -483,6 +471,11 @@ SysfsEvent::SysfsEvent(const std::string& ev_name, bool enable_on_exec) : Event(
     }
 }
 
+void SysfsEvent::make_invalid()
+{
+    availability_ = Availability::UNAVAILABLE;
+}
+
 void SysfsEvent::use_sampling_options(const bool& use_pebs, const bool& sampling,
                                       const bool& enable_cct)
 {
diff --git a/src/perf/event_provider.cpp b/src/perf/event_provider.cpp
index aae5399d..43eb8b11 100644
--- a/src/perf/event_provider.cpp
+++ b/src/perf/event_provider.cpp
@@ -301,7 +301,10 @@ Event EventProvider::cache_event(const std::string& name)
     catch (const InvalidEvent& e)
     {
         // emplace unavailable Sampling Event
-        event_map_.emplace(name, SysfsEvent());
+        SysfsEvent event = EventProvider::instance().create_sysfs_event(name, false);
+        event.make_invalid();
+
+        event_map_.emplace(name, event);
         throw e;
     }
 }
diff --git a/src/perf/tracepoint/event.cpp b/src/perf/tracepoint/event.cpp
index 6136014f..70671511 100644
--- a/src/perf/tracepoint/event.cpp
+++ b/src/perf/tracepoint/event.cpp
@@ -30,13 +30,13 @@ namespace tracepoint
 {
 
 TracepointEvent::TracepointEvent(const std::string& name, bool enable_on_exec)
-: Event(), name_(name)
+: Event(name, PERF_TYPE_TRACEPOINT, 0), name_(name)
 {
     set_common_attrs(enable_on_exec);
     parse_format();
 
+    // update to correct config (id_ set in parse_format())
     attr_.config = id_;
-    attr_.type = PERF_TYPE_TRACEPOINT;
     attr_.sample_type |= PERF_SAMPLE_RAW | PERF_SAMPLE_IDENTIFIER;
 
     update_availability();