diff --git a/tools/perf/util/evsel.c b/tools/perf/util/evsel.c
index f14c83e6829a..a9cb1aede476 100644
--- a/tools/perf/util/evsel.c
+++ b/tools/perf/util/evsel.c
@@ -2930,6 +2930,8 @@ bool evsel__is_hybrid(struct evsel *evsel)
 
 struct evsel *evsel__leader(struct evsel *evsel)
 {
+	if (evsel->core.leader == NULL)
+		return NULL;
 	return container_of(evsel->core.leader, struct evsel, core);
 }