diff --git a/tools/perf/util/header.c b/tools/perf/util/header.c
index 4c7c2d73251..6e618ba2138 100644
--- a/tools/perf/util/header.c
+++ b/tools/perf/util/header.c
@@ -31,21 +31,16 @@ static const char **header_argv;
 
 int perf_header__push_event(u64 id, const char *name)
 {
+	struct perf_trace_event_type *nevents;
+
 	if (strlen(name) > MAX_EVENT_NAME)
 		pr_warning("Event %s will be truncated\n", name);
 
-	if (!events) {
-		events = malloc(sizeof(struct perf_trace_event_type));
-		if (events == NULL)
-			return -ENOMEM;
-	} else {
-		struct perf_trace_event_type *nevents;
+	nevents = realloc(events, (event_count + 1) * sizeof(*events));
+	if (nevents == NULL)
+		return -ENOMEM;
+	events = nevents;
 
-		nevents = realloc(events, (event_count + 1) * sizeof(*events));
-		if (nevents == NULL)
-			return -ENOMEM;
-		events = nevents;
-	}
 	memset(&events[event_count], 0, sizeof(struct perf_trace_event_type));
 	events[event_count].event_id = id;
 	strncpy(events[event_count].name, name, MAX_EVENT_NAME - 1);