diff --git a/tools/perf/util/sort.c b/tools/perf/util/sort.c
index 4593f36ecc4c..09d4696fd9a1 100644
--- a/tools/perf/util/sort.c
+++ b/tools/perf/util/sort.c
@@ -89,14 +89,14 @@ static int64_t
 sort__comm_cmp(struct hist_entry *left, struct hist_entry *right)
 {
 	/* Compare the addr that should be unique among comm */
-	return comm__str(right->comm) - comm__str(left->comm);
+	return strcmp(comm__str(right->comm), comm__str(left->comm));
 }
 
 static int64_t
 sort__comm_collapse(struct hist_entry *left, struct hist_entry *right)
 {
 	/* Compare the addr that should be unique among comm */
-	return comm__str(right->comm) - comm__str(left->comm);
+	return strcmp(comm__str(right->comm), comm__str(left->comm));
 }
 
 static int64_t