diff --git a/tools/sched_ext/scx_show_state.py b/tools/sched_ext/scx_show_state.py
index 02e43c184d43..446d82807f90 100644
--- a/tools/sched_ext/scx_show_state.py
+++ b/tools/sched_ext/scx_show_state.py
@@ -27,18 +27,25 @@ def read_static_key(name):
 def state_str(state):
     return prog['scx_enable_state_str'][state].string_().decode()
 
+def read_root_ops_name():
+    if root:
+        return root.ops.name.string_().decode()
+    return ''
+
+def read_root_field(name, default):
+    if root:
+        return getattr(root, name).value_()
+    return default
+
 root = prog['scx_root']
 enable_state = read_atomic("scx_enable_state_var")
 
-if root:
-    print(f'ops           : {root.ops.name.string_().decode()}')
-else:
-    print('ops           : ')
+print(f'ops           : {read_root_ops_name()}')
 print(f'enabled       : {read_static_key("__scx_enabled")}')
 print(f'switching_all : {read_int("scx_switching_all")}')
 print(f'switched_all  : {read_static_key("__scx_switched_all")}')
 print(f'enable_state  : {state_str(enable_state)} ({enable_state})')
-print(f'aborting      : {prog["scx_aborting"].value_()}')
-print(f'bypass_depth  : {prog["scx_bypass_depth"].value_()}')
+print(f'aborting      : {read_root_field("aborting", False)}')
+print(f'bypass_depth  : {read_root_field("bypass_depth", 0)}')
 print(f'nr_rejected   : {read_atomic("scx_nr_rejected")}')
 print(f'enable_seq    : {read_atomic("scx_enable_seq")}')