diff --git a/kernel/trace/trace_events_hist.c b/kernel/trace/trace_events_hist.c
index e40712abe089..f63766366e23 100644
--- a/kernel/trace/trace_events_hist.c
+++ b/kernel/trace/trace_events_hist.c
@@ -4291,6 +4291,8 @@ 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