diff --git a/include/spdk_internal/event.h b/include/spdk_internal/event.h
index 5684ffed80..1e6608e455 100644
--- a/include/spdk_internal/event.h
+++ b/include/spdk_internal/event.h
@@ -259,8 +259,10 @@ struct spdk_governor *_spdk_governor_get(void);
  * A list of cores and threads which is used for scheduling.
  */
 struct spdk_scheduler_core_info {
-	uint64_t core_idle_tsc;
-	uint64_t core_busy_tsc;
+	/* stats over a lifetime of a core */
+	uint64_t total_idle_tsc;
+	uint64_t total_busy_tsc;
+
 	uint32_t lcore;
 	uint32_t threads_count;
 	uint32_t pending_threads_count;
diff --git a/lib/event/gscheduler.c b/lib/event/gscheduler.c
index 49bb7fc542..251eaa7d47 100644
--- a/lib/event/gscheduler.c
+++ b/lib/event/gscheduler.c
@@ -89,7 +89,7 @@ balance(struct spdk_scheduler_core_info *cores, int core_count, struct spdk_gove
 
 		turbo_available = (capabilities.turbo_available && capabilities.turbo_set) ? true : false;
 
-		if (core->core_busy_tsc < (core->core_idle_tsc / 1000)) {
+		if (core->total_busy_tsc < (core->total_idle_tsc / 1000)) {
 			rc = governor->set_core_freq_min(core->lcore);
 			if (rc < 0) {
 				SPDK_ERRLOG("setting to minimal frequency for core %u failed\n", core->lcore);
@@ -103,7 +103,7 @@ balance(struct spdk_scheduler_core_info *cores, int core_count, struct spdk_gove
 			}
 
 			SPDK_DEBUGLOG(reactor, "setting to minimal frequency for core: %u\n", core->lcore);
-		} else if (core->core_idle_tsc > core->core_busy_tsc) {
+		} else if (core->total_idle_tsc > core->total_busy_tsc) {
 			rc = governor->core_freq_down(core->lcore);
 			if (rc < 0) {
 				SPDK_ERRLOG("lowering frequency for core %u failed\n", core->lcore);
@@ -117,7 +117,7 @@ balance(struct spdk_scheduler_core_info *cores, int core_count, struct spdk_gove
 			}
 
 			SPDK_DEBUGLOG(reactor, "lowering frequency for core: %u\n", core->lcore);
-		} else if (core->core_idle_tsc < (core->core_busy_tsc / 1000)) {
+		} else if (core->total_idle_tsc < (core->total_busy_tsc / 1000)) {
 			rc = governor->set_core_freq_max(core->lcore);
 			if (rc < 0) {
 				SPDK_ERRLOG("setting to maximal frequency for core %u failed\n", core->lcore);
diff --git a/lib/event/reactor.c b/lib/event/reactor.c
index 6c9c2d4a8b..92886887c3 100644
--- a/lib/event/reactor.c
+++ b/lib/event/reactor.c
@@ -792,8 +792,8 @@ _reactors_scheduler_gather_metrics(void *arg1, void *arg2)
 	reactor->flags.is_scheduling = true;
 	core_info = &g_core_infos[reactor->lcore];
 	core_info->lcore = reactor->lcore;
-	core_info->core_idle_tsc = reactor->idle_tsc;
-	core_info->core_busy_tsc = reactor->busy_tsc;
+	core_info->total_idle_tsc = reactor->idle_tsc;
+	core_info->total_busy_tsc = reactor->busy_tsc;
 	core_info->interrupt_mode = reactor->in_interrupt;
 
 	SPDK_DEBUGLOG(reactor, "Gathering metrics on %u\n", reactor->lcore);
diff --git a/lib/event/scheduler_dynamic.c b/lib/event/scheduler_dynamic.c
index 724ba15ede..5744fcd5c6 100644
--- a/lib/event/scheduler_dynamic.c
+++ b/lib/event/scheduler_dynamic.c
@@ -139,10 +139,10 @@ balance(struct spdk_scheduler_core_info *cores_info, int cores_count,
 	uint8_t load;
 	bool busy_threads_present = false;
 
-	main_core_busy = cores_info[g_main_lcore].core_busy_tsc - g_last_main_core_busy;
-	main_core_idle = cores_info[g_main_lcore].core_idle_tsc - g_last_main_core_idle;
-	g_last_main_core_busy = cores_info[g_main_lcore].core_busy_tsc;
-	g_last_main_core_idle = cores_info[g_main_lcore].core_idle_tsc;
+	main_core_busy = cores_info[g_main_lcore].total_busy_tsc - g_last_main_core_busy;
+	main_core_idle = cores_info[g_main_lcore].total_idle_tsc - g_last_main_core_idle;
+	g_last_main_core_busy = cores_info[g_main_lcore].total_busy_tsc;
+	g_last_main_core_idle = cores_info[g_main_lcore].total_idle_tsc;
 
 	SPDK_ENV_FOREACH_CORE(i) {
 		cores_info[i].pending_threads_count = cores_info[i].threads_count;