diff --git a/tools/perf/util/probe-file.c b/tools/perf/util/probe-file.c
index bbecb449ea944..d2b98d64438e5 100644
--- a/tools/perf/util/probe-file.c
+++ b/tools/perf/util/probe-file.c
@@ -342,11 +342,11 @@ int probe_file__del_events(int fd, struct strfilter *filter)
 
 	ret = probe_file__get_events(fd, filter, namelist);
 	if (ret < 0)
-		return ret;
+		goto out;
 
 	ret = probe_file__del_strlist(fd, namelist);
+out:
 	strlist__delete(namelist);
-
 	return ret;
 }