diff --git a/tools/perf/util/config.c b/tools/perf/util/config.c
index 8749eca3055f..31e09a4e8862 100644
--- a/tools/perf/util/config.c
+++ b/tools/perf/util/config.c
@@ -742,6 +742,9 @@ static void perf_config_set__purge(struct perf_config_set *set)
 
 void perf_config_set__delete(struct perf_config_set *set)
 {
+	if (set == NULL)
+		return;
+
 	perf_config_set__purge(set);
 	free(set);
 }