diff --git a/tools/perf/util/evsel.c b/tools/perf/util/evsel.c
index d264c143b592..496f42434327 100644
--- a/tools/perf/util/evsel.c
+++ b/tools/perf/util/evsel.c
@@ -3935,6 +3935,8 @@ bool evsel__is_hybrid(const struct evsel *evsel)
 
 struct evsel *evsel__leader(const struct evsel *evsel)
 {
+	if (evsel->core.leader == NULL)
+		return NULL;
 	return container_of(evsel->core.leader, struct evsel, core);
 }