diff --git a/tools/perf/util/data.c b/tools/perf/util/data.c
index 7bd5ddeb7a411595133d85728698b98fc6836359..e098e189f93e45e0217bb07758fab03f543a45c0 100644
--- a/tools/perf/util/data.c
+++ b/tools/perf/util/data.c
@@ -237,7 +237,7 @@ static int open_file(struct perf_data *data)
 	     open_file_read(data) : open_file_write(data);
 
 	if (fd < 0) {
-		free(data->file.path);
+		zfree(&data->file.path);
 		return -1;
 	}
 
@@ -270,7 +270,7 @@ int perf_data__open(struct perf_data *data)
 
 void perf_data__close(struct perf_data *data)
 {
-	free(data->file.path);
+	zfree(&data->file.path);
 	close(data->file.fd);
 }