diff --git a/tools/perf/builtin-trace.c b/tools/perf/builtin-trace.c
index ecd26e058baf..ee82e858ab20 100644
--- a/tools/perf/builtin-trace.c
+++ b/tools/perf/builtin-trace.c
@@ -3986,10 +3986,13 @@ static int trace__set_filter_loop_pids(struct trace *trace)
 		if (!strcmp(thread__comm_str(parent), "sshd") ||
 		    strstarts(thread__comm_str(parent), "gnome-terminal")) {
 			pids[nr++] = thread__tid(parent);
+			thread__put(parent);
 			break;
 		}
+		thread__put(thread);
 		thread = parent;
 	}
+	thread__put(thread);
 
 	err = evlist__append_tp_filter_pids(trace->evlist, nr, pids);
 	if (!err && trace->filter_pids.map)