diff --git a/tools/perf/util/probe-finder.c b/tools/perf/util/probe-finder.c
index 9963e4e8ea20920432eefeff68f755154d1bdedb..659024342e9acba291ef59d12d19dd9675ebfcf2 100644
--- a/tools/perf/util/probe-finder.c
+++ b/tools/perf/util/probe-finder.c
@@ -1467,7 +1467,7 @@ int debuginfo__find_trace_events(struct debuginfo *dbg,
 	if (ret >= 0 && tf.pf.skip_empty_arg)
 		ret = fill_empty_trace_arg(pev, tf.tevs, tf.ntevs);
 
-	if (ret < 0) {
+	if (ret < 0 || tf.ntevs == 0) {
 		for (i = 0; i < tf.ntevs; i++)
 			clear_probe_trace_event(&tf.tevs[i]);
 		zfree(tevs);