diff --git a/tools/testing/selftests/cgroup/test_memcontrol.c b/tools/testing/selftests/cgroup/test_memcontrol.c
index 9c1f19fe2e37..a639bf49d396 100644
--- a/tools/testing/selftests/cgroup/test_memcontrol.c
+++ b/tools/testing/selftests/cgroup/test_memcontrol.c
@@ -211,13 +211,17 @@ static int alloc_pagecache_50M_noexit(const char *cgroup, void *arg)
 static int alloc_anon_noexit(const char *cgroup, void *arg)
 {
 	int ppid = getppid();
+	size_t size = (unsigned long)arg;
+	char *buf, *ptr;
 
-	if (alloc_anon(cgroup, arg))
-		return -1;
+	buf = malloc(size);
+	for (ptr = buf; ptr < buf + size; ptr += PAGE_SIZE)
+		*ptr = 0;
 
 	while (getppid() == ppid)
 		sleep(1);
 
+	free(buf);
 	return 0;
 }