diff --git a/tools/perf/util/evlist.c b/tools/perf/util/evlist.c
index b4b54d84e9b0..3c9e77d6b4c2 100644
--- a/tools/perf/util/evlist.c
+++ b/tools/perf/util/evlist.c
@@ -1003,6 +1003,7 @@ int perf_evlist__create_maps(struct perf_evlist *evlist, struct target *target)
 
 out_delete_threads:
 	thread_map__delete(evlist->threads);
+	evlist->threads = NULL;
 	return -1;
 }