diff --git a/tools/perf/util/sort.c b/tools/perf/util/sort.c
index a111065b484e..a4f2ffe2bdb6 100644
--- a/tools/perf/util/sort.c
+++ b/tools/perf/util/sort.c
@@ -876,8 +876,7 @@ static int hist_entry__dso_to_filter(struct hist_entry *he, int type,
 static int64_t
 sort__sym_from_cmp(struct hist_entry *left, struct hist_entry *right)
 {
-	struct addr_map_symbol *from_l = &left->branch_info->from;
-	struct addr_map_symbol *from_r = &right->branch_info->from;
+	struct addr_map_symbol *from_l, *from_r;
 
 	if (!left->branch_info || !right->branch_info)
 		return cmp_null(left->branch_info, right->branch_info);