diff --git a/tools/perf/util/evsel.c b/tools/perf/util/evsel.c
index 1b16dd1..7e93418 100644
--- a/tools/perf/util/evsel.c
+++ b/tools/perf/util/evsel.c
@@ -55,6 +55,7 @@
 {
 	evsel->idx	   = idx;
 	evsel->attr	   = *attr;
+	evsel->leader	   = evsel;
 	INIT_LIST_HEAD(&evsel->node);
 	hists__init(&evsel->hists);
 	evsel->sample_size = __perf_evsel__sample_size(attr->sample_type);