diff --git a/tools/perf/util/machine.c b/tools/perf/util/machine.c
index daa55910ff281e014cd808d597e964a1150c05fe..7ec3188d3cb34d53a64fea44ef8afc66cdef50ac 100644
--- a/tools/perf/util/machine.c
+++ b/tools/perf/util/machine.c
@@ -333,7 +333,7 @@ static void machine__update_thread_pid(struct machine *machine,
 		if (!map_groups__empty(th->mg))
 			pr_err("Discarding thread maps for %d:%d\n",
 			       th->pid_, th->tid);
-		map_groups__delete(th->mg);
+		map_groups__put(th->mg);
 	}
 
 	th->mg = map_groups__get(leader->mg);