diff --git a/tools/perf/builtin-kmem.c b/tools/perf/builtin-kmem.c
index d426dcb18ce9..496a4ca11667 100644
--- a/tools/perf/builtin-kmem.c
+++ b/tools/perf/builtin-kmem.c
@@ -674,6 +674,7 @@ static char *compact_gfp_flags(char *gfp_flags)
 			new = realloc(new_flags, len + strlen(cpt) + 2);
 			if (new == NULL) {
 				free(new_flags);
+				free(orig_flags);
 				return NULL;
 			}