diff --git a/tools/perf/lib/include/internal/xyarray.h b/tools/perf/lib/include/internal/xyarray.h
index 3bf70e4d474c..51e35d6c8ec4 100644
--- a/tools/perf/lib/include/internal/xyarray.h
+++ b/tools/perf/lib/include/internal/xyarray.h
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@
 #ifndef __LIBPERF_INTERNAL_XYARRAY_H
 #define __LIBPERF_INTERNAL_XYARRAY_H
 
+#include <linux/compiler.h>
 #include <sys/types.h>
 
 struct xyarray {
@@ -10,7 +11,7 @@ struct xyarray {
 	size_t entries;
 	size_t max_x;
 	size_t max_y;
-	char contents[];
+	char contents[] __aligned(8);
 };
 
 struct xyarray *xyarray__new(int xlen, int ylen, size_t entry_size);