diff --git a/tools/perf/util/metricgroup.c b/tools/perf/util/metricgroup.c
index 0d8c840f88c0..416a9015405e 100644
--- a/tools/perf/util/metricgroup.c
+++ b/tools/perf/util/metricgroup.c
@@ -492,6 +492,7 @@ static void metricgroup__free_egroups(struct list_head *group_list)
 		for (i = 0; i < eg->idnum; i++)
 			zfree(&eg->ids[i]);
 		zfree(&eg->ids);
+		list_del_init(&eg->nd);
 		free(eg);
 	}
 }