diff --git a/tools/perf/builtin-report.c b/tools/perf/builtin-report.c
index 4d8db41b949a..d3c0b04e2e22 100644
--- a/tools/perf/builtin-report.c
+++ b/tools/perf/builtin-report.c
@@ -462,8 +462,7 @@ static size_t hists__fprintf_nr_sample_events(struct hists *hists, struct report
 	if (rep->time_str)
 		ret += fprintf(fp, " (time slices: %s)", rep->time_str);
 
-	if (symbol_conf.show_ref_callgraph &&
-	    strstr(evname, "call-graph=no")) {
+	if (symbol_conf.show_ref_callgraph && evname && strstr(evname, "call-graph=no")) {
 		ret += fprintf(fp, ", show reference callgraph");
 	}