diff --git a/tools/perf/builtin-top.c b/tools/perf/builtin-top.c
index a30d62186f5e..b83a861fab2e 100644
--- a/tools/perf/builtin-top.c
+++ b/tools/perf/builtin-top.c
@@ -1679,6 +1679,7 @@ int cmd_top(int argc, const char **argv)
 	top.session = perf_session__new(NULL, false, NULL);
 	if (IS_ERR(top.session)) {
 		status = PTR_ERR(top.session);
+		top.session = NULL;
 		goto out_delete_evlist;
 	}