diff --git a/tools/perf/util/trace-event-read.c b/tools/perf/util/trace-event-read.c
index 8a9a677f7576..6bfd690d63d9 100644
--- a/tools/perf/util/trace-event-read.c
+++ b/tools/perf/util/trace-event-read.c
@@ -350,9 +350,12 @@ static int read_event_files(struct pevent *pevent)
 		for (x=0; x < count; x++) {
 			size = read8(pevent);
 			ret = read_event_file(pevent, sys, size);
-			if (ret)
+			if (ret) {
+				free(sys);
 				return ret;
+			}
 		}
+		free(sys);
 	}
 	return 0;
 }