diff --git a/kernel/events/core.c b/kernel/events/core.c
index 7655441065a96..466e333db1f36 100644
--- a/kernel/events/core.c
+++ b/kernel/events/core.c
@@ -11802,7 +11802,7 @@ inherit_event(struct perf_event *parent_event,
 						   GFP_KERNEL);
 		if (!child_ctx->task_ctx_data) {
 			free_event(child_event);
-			return NULL;
+			return ERR_PTR(-ENOMEM);
 		}
 	}