diff --git a/tools/perf/util/stat-shadow.c b/tools/perf/util/stat-shadow.c
index 719d6cb86952..a04cf56d3517 100644
--- a/tools/perf/util/stat-shadow.c
+++ b/tools/perf/util/stat-shadow.c
@@ -70,7 +70,11 @@ static int saved_value_cmp(struct rb_node *rb_node, const void *entry)
 		return a->ctx - b->ctx;
 	if (a->cpu != b->cpu)
 		return a->cpu - b->cpu;
-	return a->evsel - b->evsel;
+	if (a->evsel == b->evsel)
+		return 0;
+	if ((char *)a->evsel < (char *)b->evsel)
+		return -1;
+	return +1;
 }
 
 static struct rb_node *saved_value_new(struct rblist *rblist __maybe_unused,