diff --git a/tools/perf/ui/browsers/hists.c b/tools/perf/ui/browsers/hists.c
index be8a6b169722..f5e13fc125c6 100644
--- a/tools/perf/ui/browsers/hists.c
+++ b/tools/perf/ui/browsers/hists.c
@@ -2826,6 +2826,8 @@ add_script_opt(struct hist_browser *browser,
 			time_optstr++;
 			time_act++;
 		}
+		if (he == NULL)
+			return n;
 		j = sprintf(tstr, " in ");
 		j += timestamp__scnprintf_usec(he->time, tstr + j,
 					       sizeof tstr - j);