diff --git a/tools/tracing/rtla/src/common.c b/tools/tracing/rtla/src/common.c
index a00b5e553545..50d8aafdfd3b 100644
--- a/tools/tracing/rtla/src/common.c
+++ b/tools/tracing/rtla/src/common.c
@@ -336,8 +336,10 @@ int run_tool(struct tool_ops *ops, int argc, char *argv[])
 		params->user.cgroup_name = params->cgroup_name;
 
 		retval = pthread_create(&user_thread, NULL, timerlat_u_dispatcher, &params->user);
-		if (retval)
+		if (retval) {
 			err_msg("Error creating timerlat user-space threads\n");
+			goto out_trace;
+		}
 	}
 
 	retval = ops->enable(tool);