diff --git a/tools/verification/rv/src/in_kernel.c b/tools/verification/rv/src/in_kernel.c
index e4f35940374f..e6dea4040f8f 100644
--- a/tools/verification/rv/src/in_kernel.c
+++ b/tools/verification/rv/src/in_kernel.c
@@ -810,7 +810,7 @@ int ikm_run_monitor(char *monitor_name, int argc, char **argv)
 	if (config_trace) {
 		inst = ikm_setup_trace_instance(nested_name);
 		if (!inst)
-			return -1;
+			goto out_free_instance;
 	}
 
 	retval = ikm_enable(full_name);