diff --git a/tools/perf/util/perf_regs.h b/tools/perf/util/perf_regs.h
index 47fe34e5f7d5..ec7640cc4c91 100644
--- a/tools/perf/util/perf_regs.h
+++ b/tools/perf/util/perf_regs.h
@@ -41,7 +41,7 @@ int perf_reg_value(u64 *valp, struct regs_dump *regs, int id);
 
 static inline const char *perf_reg_name(int id __maybe_unused)
 {
-	return NULL;
+	return "unknown";
 }
 
 static inline int perf_reg_value(u64 *valp __maybe_unused,