diff --git a/tools/perf/ui/helpline.c b/tools/perf/ui/helpline.c
index 5b74a7eba210..379039ab00d8 100644
--- a/tools/perf/ui/helpline.c
+++ b/tools/perf/ui/helpline.c
@@ -72,3 +72,13 @@ int ui_helpline__vshow(const char *fmt, va_list ap)
 {
 	return helpline_fns->show(fmt, ap);
 }
+
+void ui_helpline__printf(const char *fmt, ...)
+{
+	va_list ap;
+
+	ui_helpline__pop();
+	va_start(ap, fmt);
+	ui_helpline__vpush(fmt, ap);
+	va_end(ap);
+}
diff --git a/tools/perf/ui/helpline.h b/tools/perf/ui/helpline.h
index 46181f4fc07e..d52d0a1a881b 100644
--- a/tools/perf/ui/helpline.h
+++ b/tools/perf/ui/helpline.h
@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@ void ui_helpline__push(const char *msg);
 void ui_helpline__vpush(const char *fmt, va_list ap);
 void ui_helpline__fpush(const char *fmt, ...);
 void ui_helpline__puts(const char *msg);
+void ui_helpline__printf(const char *fmt, ...);
 int  ui_helpline__vshow(const char *fmt, va_list ap);
 
 extern char ui_helpline__current[512];