diff --git a/kernel/trace/trace_events_hist.c b/kernel/trace/trace_events_hist.c
index eb7200699cf6..3ed1723b68d5 100644
--- a/kernel/trace/trace_events_hist.c
+++ b/kernel/trace/trace_events_hist.c
@@ -1789,8 +1789,11 @@ static int init_var_ref(struct hist_field *ref_field,
 	return err;
  free:
 	kfree(ref_field->system);
+	ref_field->system = NULL;
 	kfree(ref_field->event_name);
+	ref_field->event_name = NULL;
 	kfree(ref_field->name);
+	ref_field->name = NULL;
 
 	goto out;
 }