diff --git a/tools/testing/selftests/bpf/test_progs.c b/tools/testing/selftests/bpf/test_progs.c
index 07da45230c4b..aa06bab30966 100644
--- a/tools/testing/selftests/bpf/test_progs.c
+++ b/tools/testing/selftests/bpf/test_progs.c
@@ -573,18 +573,19 @@ bool test__start_subtest_with_desc(const char *subtest_name, const char *subtest
 	struct subtest_state *subtest_state;
 	const char *subtest_display_name;
 	size_t sub_state_size = sizeof(*subtest_state);
+	void *tmp;
 
 	if (env.subtest_state)
 		test__end_subtest();
 
 	state->subtest_num++;
-	state->subtest_states =
-		realloc(state->subtest_states,
-			state->subtest_num * sub_state_size);
-	if (!state->subtest_states) {
+	tmp = realloc(state->subtest_states, state->subtest_num * sub_state_size);
+	if (!tmp) {
+		state->subtest_num--;
 		fprintf(stderr, "Not enough memory to allocate subtest result\n");
 		return false;
 	}
+	state->subtest_states = tmp;
 
 	subtest_state = &state->subtest_states[state->subtest_num - 1];