diff --git a/kernel/trace/trace_events_hist.c b/kernel/trace/trace_events_hist.c
index 413da11260f8..83e181055685 100644
--- a/kernel/trace/trace_events_hist.c
+++ b/kernel/trace/trace_events_hist.c
@@ -2695,8 +2695,11 @@ 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;
 }