diff --git a/tools/perf/util/parse-events.c b/tools/perf/util/parse-events.c
index 133c8d28f36c..668afdccfcca 100644
--- a/tools/perf/util/parse-events.c
+++ b/tools/perf/util/parse-events.c
@@ -2068,7 +2068,7 @@ int parse_events_term__clone(struct parse_events_term **new,
 			term->err_term, term->err_val);
 }
 
-void parse_events__free_terms(struct list_head *terms)
+void parse_events_terms__purge(struct list_head *terms)
 {
 	struct parse_events_term *term, *h;
 
@@ -2078,6 +2078,11 @@ void parse_events__free_terms(struct list_head *terms)
 	}
 }
 
+void parse_events__free_terms(struct list_head *terms)
+{
+	parse_events_terms__purge(terms);
+}
+
 void parse_events_evlist_error(struct parse_events_evlist *data,
 			       int idx, const char *str)
 {
diff --git a/tools/perf/util/parse-events.h b/tools/perf/util/parse-events.h
index f1a6db107241..f90a04ccab39 100644
--- a/tools/perf/util/parse-events.h
+++ b/tools/perf/util/parse-events.h
@@ -116,6 +116,7 @@ int parse_events_term__sym_hw(struct parse_events_term **term,
 int parse_events_term__clone(struct parse_events_term **new,
 			     struct parse_events_term *term);
 void parse_events__free_terms(struct list_head *terms);
+void parse_events_terms__purge(struct list_head *terms);
 int parse_events__modifier_event(struct list_head *list, char *str, bool add);
 int parse_events__modifier_group(struct list_head *list, char *event_mod);
 int parse_events_name(struct list_head *list, char *name);