diff --git a/tools/perf/util/machine.c b/tools/perf/util/machine.c
index 1700130adedb..48c4b963e809 100644
--- a/tools/perf/util/machine.c
+++ b/tools/perf/util/machine.c
@@ -1256,6 +1256,7 @@ int machines__create_guest_kernel_maps(struct machines *machines)
 		for (i = 0; i < items; i++) {
 			if (!isdigit(namelist[i]->d_name[0])) {
 				/* Filter out . and .. */
+				free(namelist[i]);
 				continue;
 			}
 			errno = 0;
@@ -1265,6 +1266,7 @@ int machines__create_guest_kernel_maps(struct machines *machines)
 			    (errno == ERANGE)) {
 				pr_debug("invalid directory (%s). Skipping.\n",
 					 namelist[i]->d_name);
+				free(namelist[i]);
 				continue;
 			}
 			snprintf(path, sizeof(path), "%s/%s/proc/kallsyms",
@@ -1272,9 +1274,11 @@ int machines__create_guest_kernel_maps(struct machines *machines)
 				 namelist[i]->d_name);
 			if (access(path, R_OK)) {
 				pr_debug("Can't access file %s\n", path);
+				free(namelist[i]);
 				continue;
 			}
 			machines__create_kernel_maps(machines, pid);
+			free(namelist[i]);
 		}
 		free(namelist);
 	}