diff --git a/tools/perf/util/callchain.h b/tools/perf/util/callchain.h
index c15fb8c..d74a19a 100644
--- a/tools/perf/util/callchain.h
+++ b/tools/perf/util/callchain.h
@@ -49,6 +49,27 @@
 	struct list_head	list;
 };
 
+/*
+ * A callchain cursor is a single linked list that
+ * let one feed a callchain progressively.
+ * It keeps persitent allocated entries to minimize
+ * allocations.
+ */
+struct callchain_cursor_node {
+	u64				ip;
+	struct map			*map;
+	struct symbol			*sym;
+	struct callchain_cursor_node	*next;
+};
+
+struct callchain_cursor {
+	u64				nr;
+	struct callchain_cursor_node	*first;
+	struct callchain_cursor_node	**last;
+	u64				pos;
+	struct callchain_cursor_node	*curr;
+};
+
 static inline void callchain_init(struct callchain_root *root)
 {
 	INIT_LIST_HEAD(&root->node.brothers);
@@ -67,9 +88,48 @@
 }
 
 int register_callchain_param(struct callchain_param *param);
-int callchain_append(struct callchain_root *root, struct ip_callchain *chain,
-		     struct map_symbol *syms, u64 period);
-int callchain_merge(struct callchain_root *dst, struct callchain_root *src);
+int callchain_append(struct callchain_root *root,
+		     struct callchain_cursor *cursor,
+		     u64 period);
+
+int callchain_merge(struct callchain_cursor *cursor,
+		    struct callchain_root *dst, struct callchain_root *src);
 
 bool ip_callchain__valid(struct ip_callchain *chain, const event_t *event);
+
+/*
+ * Initialize a cursor before adding entries inside, but keep
+ * the previously allocated entries as a cache.
+ */
+static inline void callchain_cursor_reset(struct callchain_cursor *cursor)
+{
+	cursor->nr = 0;
+	cursor->last = &cursor->first;
+}
+
+int callchain_cursor_append(struct callchain_cursor *cursor, u64 ip,
+			    struct map *map, struct symbol *sym);
+
+/* Close a cursor writing session. Initialize for the reader */
+static inline void callchain_cursor_commit(struct callchain_cursor *cursor)
+{
+	cursor->curr = cursor->first;
+	cursor->pos = 0;
+}
+
+/* Cursor reading iteration helpers */
+static inline struct callchain_cursor_node *
+callchain_cursor_current(struct callchain_cursor *cursor)
+{
+	if (cursor->pos == cursor->nr)
+		return NULL;
+
+	return cursor->curr;
+}
+
+static inline void callchain_cursor_advance(struct callchain_cursor *cursor)
+{
+	cursor->curr = cursor->curr->next;
+	cursor->pos++;
+}
 #endif	/* __PERF_CALLCHAIN_H */