diff --git a/tools/perf/util/trace-event-read.c b/tools/perf/util/trace-event-read.c
index 8593d3c200c6..0116b0c06e97 100644
--- a/tools/perf/util/trace-event-read.c
+++ b/tools/perf/util/trace-event-read.c
@@ -361,6 +361,7 @@ static int read_saved_cmdline(struct tep_handle *pevent)
 		pr_debug("error reading saved cmdlines\n");
 		goto out;
 	}
+	buf[ret] = '\0';
 
 	parse_saved_cmdline(pevent, buf, size);
 	ret = 0;