diff --git a/tools/perf/util/hist.c b/tools/perf/util/hist.c
index 236bc9d98ff2..040f34c79a53 100644
--- a/tools/perf/util/hist.c
+++ b/tools/perf/util/hist.c
@@ -325,6 +325,7 @@ struct hist_entry *__hists__add_branch_entry(struct hists *self,
 		.parent = sym_parent,
 		.filtered = symbol__parent_filter(sym_parent),
 		.branch_info = bi,
+		.hists	= self,
 	};
 
 	return add_hist_entry(self, &entry, al, period);
@@ -346,6 +347,7 @@ struct hist_entry *__hists__add_entry(struct hists *self,
 		.period	= period,
 		.parent = sym_parent,
 		.filtered = symbol__parent_filter(sym_parent),
+		.hists	= self,
 	};
 
 	return add_hist_entry(self, &entry, al, period);
diff --git a/tools/perf/util/sort.h b/tools/perf/util/sort.h
index 12d634792de5..eb3959b8e9d9 100644
--- a/tools/perf/util/sort.h
+++ b/tools/perf/util/sort.h
@@ -79,6 +79,7 @@ struct hist_entry {
 		struct rb_root	  sorted_chain;
 	};
 	struct branch_info	*branch_info;
+	struct hists		*hists;
 	struct callchain_root	callchain[0];
 };