diff --git a/tools/perf/tests/hists_common.c b/tools/perf/tests/hists_common.c
index 46f453b1de60..bcfd081ee1d2 100644
--- a/tools/perf/tests/hists_common.c
+++ b/tools/perf/tests/hists_common.c
@@ -88,8 +88,8 @@ struct machine *setup_fake_machine(struct machines *machines)
 	}
 
 	if (machine__create_kernel_maps(machine)) {
-		pr_debug("Not enough memory for machine setup\n");
-		goto out;
+		pr_debug("Cannot create kernel maps\n");
+		return NULL;
 	}
 
 	for (i = 0; i < ARRAY_SIZE(fake_threads); i++) {
@@ -155,7 +155,6 @@ struct machine *setup_fake_machine(struct machines *machines)
 out:
 	pr_debug("Not enough memory for machine setup\n");
 	machine__delete_threads(machine);
-	machine__delete(machine);
 	return NULL;
 }