diff --git a/kernel/trace/trace_events_hist.c b/kernel/trace/trace_events_hist.c
index 75529b311769..1b7f90e00eb0 100644
--- a/kernel/trace/trace_events_hist.c
+++ b/kernel/trace/trace_events_hist.c
@@ -3405,6 +3405,8 @@ trace_action_create_field_var(struct hist_trigger_data *hist_data,
 			event = data->match_data.event;
 		}
 
+		if (!event)
+			goto free;
 		/*
 		 * At this point, we're looking at a field on another
 		 * event.  Because we can't modify a hist trigger on