diff --git a/examples/quickstart/hf_llm.py b/examples/quickstart/hf_llm.py
index 987a8784d1..1c1058b19c 100644
--- a/examples/quickstart/hf_llm.py
+++ b/examples/quickstart/hf_llm.py
@@ -32,7 +32,7 @@ def generate(model, inp, cache=None):
         print(tokenizer.decode(out[0].tolist()))
 
     print("\nGenerating with PyTorch eager:")
-    eager_time = benchmark_n(2, generate, model, inp)
+    eager_time = benchmark_n(2, generate, model, inp, device=device)
 
     thunder_model = thunder.compile(
         model,
@@ -40,7 +40,7 @@ def generate(model, inp, cache=None):
     )
 
     print("\nGenerating with Thunder:")
-    thunder_time = benchmark_n(2, generate, thunder_model, inp, cache="static")
+    thunder_time = benchmark_n(2, generate, thunder_model, inp, cache="static", device=device)
 
     print(f"\nEager: {eager_time:.2f}ms")
     print(f"Thunder: {thunder_time:.2f}ms")
diff --git a/thunder/benchmarks/benchmark_hf.py b/thunder/benchmarks/benchmark_hf.py
index 08f3cd3c34..68bd56dc81 100644
--- a/thunder/benchmarks/benchmark_hf.py
+++ b/thunder/benchmarks/benchmark_hf.py
@@ -35,13 +35,13 @@ def setup_config(self):
 
 def run_and_profile(tag: str, fn, model, inp, compiled_models: dict[str, torch.nn.Module], cache=None):
     print(f"[{tag}] running PyTorch eager")
-    eager_time = benchmark_n(10, fn, model, inp)
+    eager_time = benchmark_n(10, fn, model, inp, device=device)
 
     timings = [f"Eager: {eager_time:.2f}ms"]
 
     for name, compiled_model in compiled_models.items():
         print(f"[{tag}] running Thunder ({name})")
-        thunder_time = benchmark_n(10, fn, compiled_model, inp, cache=cache)
+        thunder_time = benchmark_n(10, fn, compiled_model, inp, cache=cache, device=device)
         timings.append(f"Thunder ({name}): {thunder_time:.2f}ms")
 
         if save_traces:
diff --git a/thunder/dev_utils/benchmark.py b/thunder/dev_utils/benchmark.py
index 8fb3a9ef8c..920362f5fe 100644
--- a/thunder/dev_utils/benchmark.py
+++ b/thunder/dev_utils/benchmark.py
@@ -1,20 +1,31 @@
 from functools import partial
+import time
 
 import torch
 
 
-def benchmark_n(n, model_or_fn, /, *args, **kwargs):
+def benchmark_n(n, model_or_fn, /, *args, device: str = "cuda:0", **kwargs):
     for _ in range(n):
         _ = model_or_fn(*args, **kwargs)
-    start_event = torch.cuda.Event(enable_timing=True)
-    end_event = torch.cuda.Event(enable_timing=True)
-    torch.cuda.synchronize()
-    start_event.record()
-    for _ in range(n):
-        _ = model_or_fn(*args, **kwargs)
-    end_event.record()
-    torch.cuda.synchronize()
-    return start_event.elapsed_time(end_event) / n
+
+    use_cuda_events = device.startswith("cuda") and torch.cuda.is_available()
+
+    if use_cuda_events:
+        start_event = torch.cuda.Event(enable_timing=True)
+        end_event = torch.cuda.Event(enable_timing=True)
+        torch.cuda.synchronize()
+        start_event.record()
+        for _ in range(n):
+            _ = model_or_fn(*args, **kwargs)
+        end_event.record()
+        torch.cuda.synchronize()
+        return start_event.elapsed_time(end_event) / n
+    else:
+        start = time.perf_counter()
+        for _ in range(n):
+            _ = model_or_fn(*args, **kwargs)
+        end = time.perf_counter()
+        return (end - start) * 1000.0 / n
 
 
 benchmark = partial(benchmark_n, 10)