diff --git a/tools/perf/ui/browsers/hists.c b/tools/perf/ui/browsers/hists.c
index e66b3a30dd9f7284e906cbeda47e09186cb66c1e..2801d80c690388360525e068a437b152af54b67e 100644
--- a/tools/perf/ui/browsers/hists.c
+++ b/tools/perf/ui/browsers/hists.c
@@ -2322,10 +2322,12 @@ static int perf_evsel__hists_browse(struct perf_evsel *evsel, int nr_events,
 			 *
 			 * See hist_browser__show_entry.
 			 */
-			nr_options += add_script_opt(browser,
-						     &actions[nr_options],
-						     &options[nr_options],
-						     NULL, browser->selection->sym);
+			if (sort__has_sym && browser->selection->sym) {
+				nr_options += add_script_opt(browser,
+							     &actions[nr_options],
+							     &options[nr_options],
+							     NULL, browser->selection->sym);
+			}
 		}
 		nr_options += add_script_opt(browser, &actions[nr_options],
 					     &options[nr_options], NULL, NULL);