diff --git a/tools/perf/tests/perf-hooks.c b/tools/perf/tests/perf-hooks.c
index dbc27199c65e..dd865e0bea12 100644
--- a/tools/perf/tests/perf-hooks.c
+++ b/tools/perf/tests/perf-hooks.c
@@ -19,12 +19,11 @@ static void sigsegv_handler(int sig __maybe_unused)
 static void the_hook(void *_hook_flags)
 {
 	int *hook_flags = _hook_flags;
-	int *p = NULL;
 
 	*hook_flags = 1234;
 
 	/* Generate a segfault, test perf_hooks__recover */
-	*p = 0;
+	raise(SIGSEGV);
 }
 
 int test__perf_hooks(struct test *test __maybe_unused, int subtest __maybe_unused)