diff --git a/tools/perf/ui/browsers/hists.c b/tools/perf/ui/browsers/hists.c
index 045c1e16ac59..1818d1275d02 100644
--- a/tools/perf/ui/browsers/hists.c
+++ b/tools/perf/ui/browsers/hists.c
@@ -228,8 +228,10 @@ static void callchain_node__init_have_children(struct callchain_node *node)
 {
 	struct callchain_list *chain;
 
-	list_for_each_entry(chain, &node->val, list)
+	if (!list_empty(&node->val)) {
+		chain = list_entry(node->val.prev, struct callchain_list, list);
 		chain->ms.has_children = !RB_EMPTY_ROOT(&node->rb_root);
+	}
 
 	callchain_node__init_have_children_rb_tree(node);
 }