diff --git a/tools/perf/ui/tui/util.c b/tools/perf/ui/tui/util.c
index fe5e571816fc..5d65ea8b6496 100644
--- a/tools/perf/ui/tui/util.c
+++ b/tools/perf/ui/tui/util.c
@@ -188,7 +188,9 @@ int ui__question_window(const char *title, const char *text,
 	pthread_mutex_lock(&ui__lock);
 
 	max_len += 2;
-	nr_lines += 4;
+	nr_lines += 2;
+	if (exit_msg)
+		nr_lines += 2;
 	y = SLtt_Screen_Rows / 2 - nr_lines / 2,
 	x = SLtt_Screen_Cols / 2 - max_len / 2;
 
@@ -199,14 +201,20 @@ int ui__question_window(const char *title, const char *text,
 		SLsmg_write_string((char *)title);
 	}
 	SLsmg_gotorc(++y, x);
-	nr_lines -= 2;
+	if (exit_msg)
+		nr_lines -= 2;
 	max_len -= 2;
 	SLsmg_write_wrapped_string((unsigned char *)text, y, x,
 				   nr_lines, max_len, 1);
 	SLsmg_gotorc(y + nr_lines - 2, x);
 	SLsmg_write_nstring((char *)" ", max_len);
 	SLsmg_gotorc(y + nr_lines - 1, x);
-	SLsmg_write_nstring((char *)exit_msg, max_len);
+	if (exit_msg) {
+		SLsmg_gotorc(y + nr_lines - 2, x);
+		SLsmg_write_nstring((char *)" ", max_len);
+		SLsmg_gotorc(y + nr_lines - 1, x);
+		SLsmg_write_nstring((char *)exit_msg, max_len);
+	}
 	SLsmg_refresh();
 
 	pthread_mutex_unlock(&ui__lock);