diff --git a/tools/perf/util/ui/helpline.c b/tools/perf/util/ui/helpline.c
index f36d2ff509e..600243d766c 100644
--- a/tools/perf/util/ui/helpline.c
+++ b/tools/perf/util/ui/helpline.c
@@ -1,20 +1,22 @@
 #define _GNU_SOURCE
 #include <stdio.h>
 #include <stdlib.h>
-#include <newt.h>
 
 #include "../debug.h"
 #include "helpline.h"
 #include "ui.h"
+#include "libslang.h"
 
 void ui_helpline__pop(void)
 {
-	newtPopHelpLine();
 }
 
 void ui_helpline__push(const char *msg)
 {
-	newtPushHelpLine(msg);
+	SLsmg_gotorc(SLtt_Screen_Rows - 1, 0);
+	SLsmg_set_color(0);
+	SLsmg_write_nstring((char *)msg, SLtt_Screen_Cols);
+	SLsmg_refresh();
 }
 
 void ui_helpline__vpush(const char *fmt, va_list ap)
@@ -63,7 +65,7 @@ int ui_helpline__show_help(const char *format, va_list ap)
 
 	if (ui_helpline__last_msg[backlog - 1] == '\n') {
 		ui_helpline__puts(ui_helpline__last_msg);
-		newtRefresh();
+		SLsmg_refresh();
 		backlog = 0;
 	}
 	pthread_mutex_unlock(&ui__lock);