diff --git a/tools/perf/util/ui/browser.c b/tools/perf/util/ui/browser.c
index 556829124b02..076a5ffc8f56 100644
--- a/tools/perf/util/ui/browser.c
+++ b/tools/perf/util/ui/browser.c
@@ -27,9 +27,12 @@ static int ui_browser__percent_color(struct ui_browser *browser,
 	return HE_COLORSET_NORMAL;
 }
 
-void ui_browser__set_color(struct ui_browser *self __used, int color)
+int ui_browser__set_color(struct ui_browser *browser, int color)
 {
+	int ret = browser->current_color;
+	browser->current_color = color;
 	SLsmg_set_color(color);
+	return ret;
 }
 
 void ui_browser__set_percent_color(struct ui_browser *self,
diff --git a/tools/perf/util/ui/browser.h b/tools/perf/util/ui/browser.h
index 6ee82f60feaf..65b25921529e 100644
--- a/tools/perf/util/ui/browser.h
+++ b/tools/perf/util/ui/browser.h
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@ struct ui_browser {
 	u64	      index, top_idx;
 	void	      *top, *entries;
 	u16	      y, x, width, height;
+	int	      current_color;
 	void	      *priv;
 	const char    *title;
 	char	      *helpline;
@@ -27,7 +28,7 @@ struct ui_browser {
 	bool	      use_navkeypressed;
 };
 
-void ui_browser__set_color(struct ui_browser *self, int color);
+int  ui_browser__set_color(struct ui_browser *browser, int color);
 void ui_browser__set_percent_color(struct ui_browser *self,
 				   double percent, bool current);
 bool ui_browser__is_current_entry(struct ui_browser *self, unsigned row);