diff --git a/tools/perf/util/parse-events.c b/tools/perf/util/parse-events.c
index 17c1c36a7bf9..000c89a1e50d 100644
--- a/tools/perf/util/parse-events.c
+++ b/tools/perf/util/parse-events.c
@@ -251,8 +251,11 @@ __add_event(struct list_head *list, int *idx,
 		event_attr_init(attr);
 
 	evsel = evsel__new_idx(attr, *idx);
-	if (!evsel)
-		goto out_err;
+	if (!evsel) {
+		perf_cpu_map__put(cpus);
+		perf_cpu_map__put(pmu_cpus);
+		return NULL;
+	}
 
 	if (name) {
 		evsel->name = strdup(name);