diff --git a/kernel/trace/trace_events_hist.c b/kernel/trace/trace_events_hist.c
index ea168d42c8a2a..45a78e9c65c96 100644
--- a/kernel/trace/trace_events_hist.c
+++ b/kernel/trace/trace_events_hist.c
@@ -1838,8 +1838,11 @@ static int init_var_ref(struct hist_field *ref_field,
 	return err;
  free:
 	kfree(ref_field->system);
+	ref_field->system = NULL;
 	kfree(ref_field->event_name);
+	ref_field->event_name = NULL;
 	kfree(ref_field->name);
+	ref_field->name = NULL;
 
 	goto out;
 }