diff --git a/tools/perf/builtin-top.c b/tools/perf/builtin-top.c
index 33eefc33e0ea..d0733251a386 100644
--- a/tools/perf/builtin-top.c
+++ b/tools/perf/builtin-top.c
@@ -99,7 +99,7 @@ static void perf_top__resize(struct perf_top *top)
 
 static int perf_top__parse_source(struct perf_top *top, struct hist_entry *he)
 {
-	struct perf_evsel *evsel = hists_to_evsel(he->hists);
+	struct perf_evsel *evsel;
 	struct symbol *sym;
 	struct annotation *notes;
 	struct map *map;
@@ -108,6 +108,8 @@ static int perf_top__parse_source(struct perf_top *top, struct hist_entry *he)
 	if (!he || !he->ms.sym)
 		return -1;
 
+	evsel = hists_to_evsel(he->hists);
+
 	sym = he->ms.sym;
 	map = he->ms.map;
 
@@ -224,7 +226,7 @@ static void perf_top__record_precise_ip(struct perf_top *top,
 static void perf_top__show_details(struct perf_top *top)
 {
 	struct hist_entry *he = top->sym_filter_entry;
-	struct perf_evsel *evsel = hists_to_evsel(he->hists);
+	struct perf_evsel *evsel;
 	struct annotation *notes;
 	struct symbol *symbol;
 	int more;
@@ -232,6 +234,8 @@ static void perf_top__show_details(struct perf_top *top)
 	if (!he)
 		return;
 
+	evsel = hists_to_evsel(he->hists);
+
 	symbol = he->ms.sym;
 	notes = symbol__annotation(symbol);