diff --git a/arch/x86/events/core.c b/arch/x86/events/core.c
index c1f7b3cb84a9b..39c298afa2eaa 100644
--- a/arch/x86/events/core.c
+++ b/arch/x86/events/core.c
@@ -2094,6 +2094,7 @@ static int x86_pmu_event_init(struct perf_event *event)
 	if (err) {
 		if (event->destroy)
 			event->destroy(event);
+		event->destroy = NULL;
 	}
 
 	if (ACCESS_ONCE(x86_pmu.attr_rdpmc))