diff --git a/kernel/perf_event.c b/kernel/perf_event.c
index 2f3fbf84215..3d1552d3c12 100644
--- a/kernel/perf_event.c
+++ b/kernel/perf_event.c
@@ -4897,7 +4897,7 @@ SYSCALL_DEFINE5(perf_event_open,
 
 err_free_put_context:
 	if (err < 0)
-		kfree(event);
+		free_event(event);
 
 err_put_context:
 	if (err < 0)