diff --git a/tools/perf/util/parse-events.c b/tools/perf/util/parse-events.c
index 5795f3a8f71c..6dc9e57ab95b 100644
--- a/tools/perf/util/parse-events.c
+++ b/tools/perf/util/parse-events.c
@@ -1482,6 +1482,7 @@ int parse_events_add_pmu(struct parse_events_state *parse_state,
 
 		list_for_each_entry_safe(pos, tmp, &config_terms, list) {
 			list_del_init(&pos->list);
+			zfree(&pos->val.str);
 			free(pos);
 		}
 		return -EINVAL;