diff --git a/tools/sched_ext/scx_flatcg.c b/tools/sched_ext/scx_flatcg.c
index de2bef86d64d..7799782b76d1 100644
--- a/tools/sched_ext/scx_flatcg.c
+++ b/tools/sched_ext/scx_flatcg.c
@@ -105,12 +105,12 @@ static void fcg_read_stats(struct scx_flatcg *skel, __u64 *stats)
 	__u64 *cnts;
 	__u32 idx;
 
+	memset(stats, 0, sizeof(stats[0]) * FCG_NR_STATS);
+
 	cnts = calloc(skel->rodata->nr_cpus, sizeof(__u64));
 	if (!cnts)
 		return;
 
-	memset(stats, 0, sizeof(stats[0]) * FCG_NR_STATS);
-
 	for (idx = 0; idx < FCG_NR_STATS; idx++) {
 		int ret, cpu;