diff --git a/kernel/trace/trace_events_hist.c b/kernel/trace/trace_events_hist.c
index b97412053c0a..c6e406995c11 100644
--- a/kernel/trace/trace_events_hist.c
+++ b/kernel/trace/trace_events_hist.c
@@ -3588,6 +3588,7 @@ static int parse_action_params(struct trace_array *tr, char *params,
 	while (params) {
 		if (data->n_params >= SYNTH_FIELDS_MAX) {
 			hist_err(tr, HIST_ERR_TOO_MANY_PARAMS, 0);
+			ret = -EINVAL;
 			goto out;
 		}