diff --git a/tools/perf/builtin-record.c b/tools/perf/builtin-record.c
index f58d7e3c7879..a57987851cf0 100644
--- a/tools/perf/builtin-record.c
+++ b/tools/perf/builtin-record.c
@@ -2258,6 +2258,8 @@ static int record__setup_sb_evlist(struct record *rec)
 
 		if (evlist__add_bpf_sb_event(rec->sb_evlist, perf_session__env(rec->session))) {
 			pr_err("Couldn't ask for PERF_RECORD_BPF_EVENT side band events.\n.");
+			evlist__put(rec->sb_evlist);
+			rec->sb_evlist = NULL;
 			return -1;
 		}
 	}
diff --git a/tools/perf/builtin-top.c b/tools/perf/builtin-top.c
index 5933c46ee137..570410599f1b 100644
--- a/tools/perf/builtin-top.c
+++ b/tools/perf/builtin-top.c
@@ -1881,6 +1881,8 @@ int cmd_top(int argc, const char **argv)
 		if (evlist__add_bpf_sb_event(top.sb_evlist, &host_env)) {
 			pr_err("Couldn't ask for PERF_RECORD_BPF_EVENT side band events.\n.");
 			status = -EINVAL;
+			evlist__put(top.sb_evlist);
+			top.sb_evlist = NULL;
 			goto out_put_evlist;
 		}
 	}