diff --git a/tools/perf/builtin-diff.c b/tools/perf/builtin-diff.c
index 87063835d741..36ccc2b8827f 100644
--- a/tools/perf/builtin-diff.c
+++ b/tools/perf/builtin-diff.c
@@ -1207,7 +1207,7 @@ static int ui_init(void)
 		BUG_ON(1);
 	}
 
-	list_add(&fmt->sort_list, &perf_hpp__sort_list);
+	perf_hpp__register_sort_field(fmt);
 	return 0;
 }