diff --git a/tools/perf/util/thread_map.c b/tools/perf/util/thread_map.c
index 5d467d8ae9ab..6ee38f245804 100644
--- a/tools/perf/util/thread_map.c
+++ b/tools/perf/util/thread_map.c
@@ -313,13 +313,13 @@ struct thread_map *thread_map__new_by_tid_str(const char *tid_str)
 		threads->nr = ntasks;
 	}
 out:
+	strlist__delete(slist);
 	if (threads)
 		refcount_set(&threads->refcnt, 1);
 	return threads;
 
 out_free_threads:
 	zfree(&threads);
-	strlist__delete(slist);
 	goto out;
 }