diff --git a/tools/perf/util/llvm-utils.c b/tools/perf/util/llvm-utils.c
index 8b14e4a7f1dc..e7c7e3232fc5 100644
--- a/tools/perf/util/llvm-utils.c
+++ b/tools/perf/util/llvm-utils.c
@@ -502,6 +502,7 @@ int llvm__compile_bpf(const char *path, void **p_obj_buf,
 			goto errout;
 		}
 
+		err = -ENOMEM;
 		if (asprintf(&pipe_template, "%s -emit-llvm | %s -march=bpf %s -filetype=obj -o -",
 			      template, llc_path, opts) < 0) {
 			pr_err("ERROR:\tnot enough memory to setup command line\n");
@@ -522,6 +523,7 @@ int llvm__compile_bpf(const char *path, void **p_obj_buf,
 
 	pr_debug("llvm compiling command template: %s\n", template);
 
+	err = -ENOMEM;
 	if (asprintf(&command_echo, "echo -n \"%s\"", template) < 0)
 		goto errout;