diff --git a/tools/perf/builtin-sched.c b/tools/perf/builtin-sched.c
index a6eb0462dd5b..087d4eaba5f7 100644
--- a/tools/perf/builtin-sched.c
+++ b/tools/perf/builtin-sched.c
@@ -994,7 +994,7 @@ thread_atoms_search(struct rb_root_cached *root, struct thread *thread,
 		else if (cmp < 0)
 			node = node->rb_right;
 		else {
-			BUG_ON(thread != atoms->thread);
+			BUG_ON(!RC_CHK_EQUAL(thread, atoms->thread));
 			return atoms;
 		}
 	}