diff --git a/tools/perf/arch/common.c b/tools/perf/arch/common.c
index 3e975cb6232e..aacef07ebf31 100644
--- a/tools/perf/arch/common.c
+++ b/tools/perf/arch/common.c
@@ -155,6 +155,7 @@ static int perf_session_env__lookup_binutils_path(struct perf_session_env *env,
 		if (lookup_path(buf))
 			goto out;
 		free(buf);
+		buf = NULL;
 	}
 
 	if (!strcmp(arch, "arm"))