diff --git a/tools/perf/util/parse-events.c b/tools/perf/util/parse-events.c
index d8dcb8dbb1e2e..995fc25db8c61 100644
--- a/tools/perf/util/parse-events.c
+++ b/tools/perf/util/parse-events.c
@@ -1184,6 +1184,7 @@ static int new_term(struct parse_events_term **_term, int type_val,
 		term->val.str = str;
 		break;
 	default:
+		free(term);
 		return -EINVAL;
 	}