diff --git a/tools/perf/util/trace-event-scripting.c b/tools/perf/util/trace-event-scripting.c
index 9df61059a85d..a2fd6e79d5a5 100644
--- a/tools/perf/util/trace-event-scripting.c
+++ b/tools/perf/util/trace-event-scripting.c
@@ -95,7 +95,8 @@ static void register_python_scripting(struct scripting_ops *scripting_ops)
 	if (err)
 		die("error registering py script extension");
 
-	scripting_context = malloc(sizeof(struct scripting_context));
+	if (scripting_context == NULL)
+		scripting_context = malloc(sizeof(*scripting_context));
 }
 
 #ifdef NO_LIBPYTHON
@@ -159,7 +160,8 @@ static void register_perl_scripting(struct scripting_ops *scripting_ops)
 	if (err)
 		die("error registering pl script extension");
 
-	scripting_context = malloc(sizeof(struct scripting_context));
+	if (scripting_context == NULL)
+		scripting_context = malloc(sizeof(*scripting_context));
 }
 
 #ifdef NO_LIBPERL