diff --git a/tools/perf/builtin-record.c b/tools/perf/builtin-record.c
index 2a85205..82260c5 100644
--- a/tools/perf/builtin-record.c
+++ b/tools/perf/builtin-record.c
@@ -439,6 +439,11 @@
 	else
 		header = perf_header__new();
 
+	if (header == NULL) {
+		pr_err("Not enough memory for reading perf file header\n");
+		return -1;
+	}
+
 	if (raw_samples) {
 		perf_header__set_feat(header, HEADER_TRACE_INFO);
 	} else {