diff --git a/tools/perf/util/symbol.c b/tools/perf/util/symbol.c
index 9ef8b8946b11..82a31fd0fcf5 100644
--- a/tools/perf/util/symbol.c
+++ b/tools/perf/util/symbol.c
@@ -1819,6 +1819,7 @@ static void vmlinux_path__exit(void)
 {
 	while (--vmlinux_path__nr_entries >= 0)
 		zfree(&vmlinux_path[vmlinux_path__nr_entries]);
+	vmlinux_path__nr_entries = 0;
 
 	zfree(&vmlinux_path);
 }