diff --git a/tools/perf/builtin-annotate.c b/tools/perf/builtin-annotate.c
index 1ec7416..a330873 100644
--- a/tools/perf/builtin-annotate.c
+++ b/tools/perf/builtin-annotate.c
@@ -82,6 +82,16 @@
 	size_t	(*print)(FILE *fp, struct hist_entry *);
 };
 
+static int64_t cmp_null(void *l, void *r)
+{
+	if (!l && !r)
+		return 0;
+	else if (!l)
+		return -1;
+	else
+		return 1;
+}
+
 /* --sort pid */
 
 static int64_t
@@ -116,14 +126,8 @@
 	char *comm_l = left->thread->comm;
 	char *comm_r = right->thread->comm;
 
-	if (!comm_l || !comm_r) {
-		if (!comm_l && !comm_r)
-			return 0;
-		else if (!comm_l)
-			return -1;
-		else
-			return 1;
-	}
+	if (!comm_l || !comm_r)
+		return cmp_null(comm_l, comm_r);
 
 	return strcmp(comm_l, comm_r);
 }
@@ -149,14 +153,8 @@
 	struct dso *dso_l = left->dso;
 	struct dso *dso_r = right->dso;
 
-	if (!dso_l || !dso_r) {
-		if (!dso_l && !dso_r)
-			return 0;
-		else if (!dso_l)
-			return -1;
-		else
-			return 1;
-	}
+	if (!dso_l || !dso_r)
+		return cmp_null(dso_l, dso_r);
 
 	return strcmp(dso_l->name, dso_r->name);
 }