diff --git a/arch/powerpc/perf/perf_regs.c b/arch/powerpc/perf/perf_regs.c
index d24a8a3668fa..28ae8bd6228e 100644
--- a/arch/powerpc/perf/perf_regs.c
+++ b/arch/powerpc/perf/perf_regs.c
@@ -100,5 +100,6 @@ void perf_get_regs_user(struct perf_regs *regs_user,
 			struct pt_regs *regs_user_copy)
 {
 	regs_user->regs = task_pt_regs(current);
-	regs_user->abi  = perf_reg_abi(current);
+	regs_user->abi = (regs_user->regs) ? perf_reg_abi(current) :
+			 PERF_SAMPLE_REGS_ABI_NONE;
 }