diff --git a/kernel/trace/trace_events_hist.c b/kernel/trace/trace_events_hist.c
index 4f027642ceef..a02bc09d765a 100644
--- a/kernel/trace/trace_events_hist.c
+++ b/kernel/trace/trace_events_hist.c
@@ -2776,6 +2776,7 @@ static struct hist_field *parse_expr(struct hist_trigger_data *hist_data,
 		expr->fn = hist_field_plus;
 		break;
 	default:
+		ret = -EINVAL;
 		goto free;
 	}