diff --git a/kernel/trace/trace_events_hist.c b/kernel/trace/trace_events_hist.c
index f068d55bd37f..9d87aa1f0b79 100644
--- a/kernel/trace/trace_events_hist.c
+++ b/kernel/trace/trace_events_hist.c
@@ -1824,6 +1824,8 @@ __synth_event_trace_start(struct trace_event_file *file,
 	int entry_size, fields_size = 0;
 	int ret = 0;
 
+	memset(trace_state, '\0', sizeof(*trace_state));
+
 	/*
 	 * Normal event tracing doesn't get called at all unless the
 	 * ENABLED bit is set (which attaches the probe thus allowing
@@ -2063,8 +2065,6 @@ int synth_event_trace_start(struct trace_event_file *file,
 	if (!trace_state)
 		return -EINVAL;
 
-	memset(trace_state, '\0', sizeof(*trace_state));
-
 	ret = __synth_event_trace_start(file, trace_state);
 	if (ret == -ENOENT)
 		ret = 0; /* just disabled, not really an error */