diff --git a/tools/perf/util/header.c b/tools/perf/util/header.c
index 3451e542b69a..fbba6ffafec4 100644
--- a/tools/perf/util/header.c
+++ b/tools/perf/util/header.c
@@ -3205,7 +3205,8 @@ static int process_bpf_btf(struct feat_fd *ff, void *data __maybe_unused)
 		if (__do_read(ff, node->data, data_size))
 			goto out;
 
-		__perf_env__insert_btf(env, node);
+		if (!__perf_env__insert_btf(env, node))
+			free(node);
 		node = NULL;
 	}