diff --git a/tools/perf/util/parse-events.c b/tools/perf/util/parse-events.c
index 6c8bb0fb189b..d8dcb8dbb1e2 100644
--- a/tools/perf/util/parse-events.c
+++ b/tools/perf/util/parse-events.c
@@ -860,7 +860,8 @@ int parse_events_terms(struct list_head *terms, const char *str)
 		return 0;
 	}
 
-	parse_events__free_terms(data.terms);
+	if (data.terms)
+		parse_events__free_terms(data.terms);
 	return ret;
 }