diff --git a/tools/perf/Makefile b/tools/perf/Makefile
index db89a6de9d06..3b154f17d95b 100644
--- a/tools/perf/Makefile
+++ b/tools/perf/Makefile
@@ -329,6 +329,7 @@ LIB_H += ../../include/linux/perf_event.h
 LIB_H += ../../include/linux/rbtree.h
 LIB_H += ../../include/linux/list.h
 LIB_H += util/include/linux/list.h
+LIB_H += util/include/linux/string.h
 LIB_H += perf.h
 LIB_H += util/event.h
 LIB_H += util/types.h
diff --git a/tools/perf/util/include/linux/string.h b/tools/perf/util/include/linux/string.h
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..3b2f5900276f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tools/perf/util/include/linux/string.h
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+#include <string.h>