diff --git a/arch/x86/events/core.c b/arch/x86/events/core.c
index 429389489eed2..f612eb1cc8188 100644
--- a/arch/x86/events/core.c
+++ b/arch/x86/events/core.c
@@ -2096,6 +2096,7 @@ static int x86_pmu_event_init(struct perf_event *event)
 	if (err) {
 		if (event->destroy)
 			event->destroy(event);
+		event->destroy = NULL;
 	}
 
 	if (READ_ONCE(x86_pmu.attr_rdpmc) &&