diff --git a/kernel/trace/trace_events_hist.c b/kernel/trace/trace_events_hist.c
index c1abd63f1d6c..dacd6fe0f60c 100644
--- a/kernel/trace/trace_events_hist.c
+++ b/kernel/trace/trace_events_hist.c
@@ -2434,12 +2434,12 @@ create_field_var_hist(struct hist_trigger_data *target_hist_data,
 		      char *subsys_name, char *event_name, char *field_name)
 {
 	struct trace_array *tr = target_hist_data->event_file->tr;
-	struct hist_field *event_var = ERR_PTR(-EINVAL);
 	struct hist_trigger_data *hist_data;
 	unsigned int i, n, first = true;
 	struct field_var_hist *var_hist;
 	struct trace_event_file *file;
 	struct hist_field *key_field;
+	struct hist_field *event_var;
 	char *saved_filter;
 	char *cmd;
 	int ret;