diff --git a/arch/x86/events/amd/uncore.c b/arch/x86/events/amd/uncore.c
index 85e6984c560b..a6ea07f2aa84 100644
--- a/arch/x86/events/amd/uncore.c
+++ b/arch/x86/events/amd/uncore.c
@@ -202,15 +202,22 @@ static int amd_uncore_event_init(struct perf_event *event)
 	hwc->config = event->attr.config & AMD64_RAW_EVENT_MASK_NB;
 	hwc->idx = -1;
 
+	if (event->cpu < 0)
+		return -EINVAL;
+
 	/*
 	 * SliceMask and ThreadMask need to be set for certain L3 events in
 	 * Family 17h. For other events, the two fields do not affect the count.
 	 */
-	if (l3_mask)
-		hwc->config |= (AMD64_L3_SLICE_MASK | AMD64_L3_THREAD_MASK);
+	if (l3_mask && is_llc_event(event)) {
+		int thread = 2 * (cpu_data(event->cpu).cpu_core_id % 4);
 
-	if (event->cpu < 0)
-		return -EINVAL;
+		if (smp_num_siblings > 1)
+			thread += cpu_data(event->cpu).apicid & 1;
+
+		hwc->config |= (1ULL << (AMD64_L3_THREAD_SHIFT + thread) &
+				AMD64_L3_THREAD_MASK) | AMD64_L3_SLICE_MASK;
+	}
 
 	uncore = event_to_amd_uncore(event);
 	if (!uncore)
diff --git a/arch/x86/events/intel/core.c b/arch/x86/events/intel/core.c
index bda450ff51ee..9e911a96972b 100644
--- a/arch/x86/events/intel/core.c
+++ b/arch/x86/events/intel/core.c
@@ -2161,12 +2161,10 @@ static void intel_pmu_disable_event(struct perf_event *event)
 	cpuc->intel_ctrl_host_mask &= ~(1ull << hwc->idx);
 	cpuc->intel_cp_status &= ~(1ull << hwc->idx);
 
-	if (unlikely(hwc->config_base == MSR_ARCH_PERFMON_FIXED_CTR_CTRL)) {
+	if (unlikely(hwc->config_base == MSR_ARCH_PERFMON_FIXED_CTR_CTRL))
 		intel_pmu_disable_fixed(hwc);
-		return;
-	}
-
-	x86_pmu_disable_event(event);
+	else
+		x86_pmu_disable_event(event);
 
 	/*
 	 * Needs to be called after x86_pmu_disable_event,
diff --git a/include/linux/perf_event.h b/include/linux/perf_event.h
index 16e38c286d46..e8ad3c590a23 100644
--- a/include/linux/perf_event.h
+++ b/include/linux/perf_event.h
@@ -1055,6 +1055,11 @@ static inline int in_software_context(struct perf_event *event)
 	return event->ctx->pmu->task_ctx_nr == perf_sw_context;
 }
 
+static inline int is_exclusive_pmu(struct pmu *pmu)
+{
+	return pmu->capabilities & PERF_PMU_CAP_EXCLUSIVE;
+}
+
 extern struct static_key perf_swevent_enabled[PERF_COUNT_SW_MAX];
 
 extern void ___perf_sw_event(u32, u64, struct pt_regs *, u64);
diff --git a/kernel/events/core.c b/kernel/events/core.c
index 785d708f8553..eea9d52b010c 100644
--- a/kernel/events/core.c
+++ b/kernel/events/core.c
@@ -2553,6 +2553,9 @@ static int  __perf_install_in_context(void *info)
 	return ret;
 }
 
+static bool exclusive_event_installable(struct perf_event *event,
+					struct perf_event_context *ctx);
+
 /*
  * Attach a performance event to a context.
  *
@@ -2567,6 +2570,8 @@ perf_install_in_context(struct perf_event_context *ctx,
 
 	lockdep_assert_held(&ctx->mutex);
 
+	WARN_ON_ONCE(!exclusive_event_installable(event, ctx));
+
 	if (event->cpu != -1)
 		event->cpu = cpu;
 
@@ -4360,7 +4365,7 @@ static int exclusive_event_init(struct perf_event *event)
 {
 	struct pmu *pmu = event->pmu;
 
-	if (!(pmu->capabilities & PERF_PMU_CAP_EXCLUSIVE))
+	if (!is_exclusive_pmu(pmu))
 		return 0;
 
 	/*
@@ -4391,7 +4396,7 @@ static void exclusive_event_destroy(struct perf_event *event)
 {
 	struct pmu *pmu = event->pmu;
 
-	if (!(pmu->capabilities & PERF_PMU_CAP_EXCLUSIVE))
+	if (!is_exclusive_pmu(pmu))
 		return;
 
 	/* see comment in exclusive_event_init() */
@@ -4411,14 +4416,15 @@ static bool exclusive_event_match(struct perf_event *e1, struct perf_event *e2)
 	return false;
 }
 
-/* Called under the same ctx::mutex as perf_install_in_context() */
 static bool exclusive_event_installable(struct perf_event *event,
 					struct perf_event_context *ctx)
 {
 	struct perf_event *iter_event;
 	struct pmu *pmu = event->pmu;
 
-	if (!(pmu->capabilities & PERF_PMU_CAP_EXCLUSIVE))
+	lockdep_assert_held(&ctx->mutex);
+
+	if (!is_exclusive_pmu(pmu))
 		return true;
 
 	list_for_each_entry(iter_event, &ctx->event_list, event_entry) {
@@ -4465,12 +4471,20 @@ static void _free_event(struct perf_event *event)
 	if (event->destroy)
 		event->destroy(event);
 
-	if (event->ctx)
-		put_ctx(event->ctx);
-
+	/*
+	 * Must be after ->destroy(), due to uprobe_perf_close() using
+	 * hw.target.
+	 */
 	if (event->hw.target)
 		put_task_struct(event->hw.target);
 
+	/*
+	 * perf_event_free_task() relies on put_ctx() being 'last', in particular
+	 * all task references must be cleaned up.
+	 */
+	if (event->ctx)
+		put_ctx(event->ctx);
+
 	exclusive_event_destroy(event);
 	module_put(event->pmu->module);
 
@@ -4650,8 +4664,17 @@ int perf_event_release_kernel(struct perf_event *event)
 	mutex_unlock(&event->child_mutex);
 
 	list_for_each_entry_safe(child, tmp, &free_list, child_list) {
+		void *var = &child->ctx->refcount;
+
 		list_del(&child->child_list);
 		free_event(child);
+
+		/*
+		 * Wake any perf_event_free_task() waiting for this event to be
+		 * freed.
+		 */
+		smp_mb(); /* pairs with wait_var_event() */
+		wake_up_var(var);
 	}
 
 no_ctx:
@@ -10930,11 +10953,6 @@ SYSCALL_DEFINE5(perf_event_open,
 		goto err_alloc;
 	}
 
-	if ((pmu->capabilities & PERF_PMU_CAP_EXCLUSIVE) && group_leader) {
-		err = -EBUSY;
-		goto err_context;
-	}
-
 	/*
 	 * Look up the group leader (we will attach this event to it):
 	 */
@@ -11022,6 +11040,18 @@ SYSCALL_DEFINE5(perf_event_open,
 				move_group = 0;
 			}
 		}
+
+		/*
+		 * Failure to create exclusive events returns -EBUSY.
+		 */
+		err = -EBUSY;
+		if (!exclusive_event_installable(group_leader, ctx))
+			goto err_locked;
+
+		for_each_sibling_event(sibling, group_leader) {
+			if (!exclusive_event_installable(sibling, ctx))
+				goto err_locked;
+		}
 	} else {
 		mutex_lock(&ctx->mutex);
 	}
@@ -11058,9 +11088,6 @@ SYSCALL_DEFINE5(perf_event_open,
 	 * because we need to serialize with concurrent event creation.
 	 */
 	if (!exclusive_event_installable(event, ctx)) {
-		/* exclusive and group stuff are assumed mutually exclusive */
-		WARN_ON_ONCE(move_group);
-
 		err = -EBUSY;
 		goto err_locked;
 	}
@@ -11527,11 +11554,11 @@ static void perf_free_event(struct perf_event *event,
 }
 
 /*
- * Free an unexposed, unused context as created by inheritance by
- * perf_event_init_task below, used by fork() in case of fail.
+ * Free a context as created by inheritance by perf_event_init_task() below,
+ * used by fork() in case of fail.
  *
- * Not all locks are strictly required, but take them anyway to be nice and
- * help out with the lockdep assertions.
+ * Even though the task has never lived, the context and events have been
+ * exposed through the child_list, so we must take care tearing it all down.
  */
 void perf_event_free_task(struct task_struct *task)
 {
@@ -11561,7 +11588,23 @@ void perf_event_free_task(struct task_struct *task)
 			perf_free_event(event, ctx);
 
 		mutex_unlock(&ctx->mutex);
-		put_ctx(ctx);
+
+		/*
+		 * perf_event_release_kernel() could've stolen some of our
+		 * child events and still have them on its free_list. In that
+		 * case we must wait for these events to have been freed (in
+		 * particular all their references to this task must've been
+		 * dropped).
+		 *
+		 * Without this copy_process() will unconditionally free this
+		 * task (irrespective of its reference count) and
+		 * _free_event()'s put_task_struct(event->hw.target) will be a
+		 * use-after-free.
+		 *
+		 * Wait for all events to drop their context reference.
+		 */
+		wait_var_event(&ctx->refcount, refcount_read(&ctx->refcount) == 1);
+		put_ctx(ctx); /* must be last */
 	}
 }
 
diff --git a/tools/include/linux/zalloc.h b/tools/include/linux/zalloc.h
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..81099c84043f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tools/include/linux/zalloc.h
@@ -0,0 +1,12 @@
+// SPDX-License-Identifier: LGPL-2.1
+#ifndef __TOOLS_LINUX_ZALLOC_H
+#define __TOOLS_LINUX_ZALLOC_H
+
+#include <stddef.h>
+
+void *zalloc(size_t size);
+void __zfree(void **ptr);
+
+#define zfree(ptr) __zfree((void **)(ptr))
+
+#endif // __TOOLS_LINUX_ZALLOC_H
diff --git a/tools/lib/zalloc.c b/tools/lib/zalloc.c
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..9c856d59f56e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tools/lib/zalloc.c
@@ -0,0 +1,15 @@
+// SPDX-License-Identifier: LGPL-2.1
+
+#include <stdlib.h>
+#include <linux/zalloc.h>
+
+void *zalloc(size_t size)
+{
+	return calloc(1, size);
+}
+
+void __zfree(void **ptr)
+{
+	free(*ptr);
+	*ptr = NULL;
+}
diff --git a/tools/perf/MANIFEST b/tools/perf/MANIFEST
index 6a5de44b2de9..70f1ff4e2eb4 100644
--- a/tools/perf/MANIFEST
+++ b/tools/perf/MANIFEST
@@ -18,3 +18,4 @@ tools/lib/find_bit.c
 tools/lib/bitmap.c
 tools/lib/str_error_r.c
 tools/lib/vsprintf.c
+tools/lib/zalloc.c
diff --git a/tools/perf/arch/arm/annotate/instructions.c b/tools/perf/arch/arm/annotate/instructions.c
index f64516d5b23e..c7d1a69b894f 100644
--- a/tools/perf/arch/arm/annotate/instructions.c
+++ b/tools/perf/arch/arm/annotate/instructions.c
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 // SPDX-License-Identifier: GPL-2.0
 #include <linux/compiler.h>
+#include <linux/zalloc.h>
 #include <sys/types.h>
 #include <regex.h>
 
diff --git a/tools/perf/arch/arm/util/auxtrace.c b/tools/perf/arch/arm/util/auxtrace.c
index 1ce6bdbda561..02014740a1aa 100644
--- a/tools/perf/arch/arm/util/auxtrace.c
+++ b/tools/perf/arch/arm/util/auxtrace.c
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@
 
 #include <stdbool.h>
 #include <linux/coresight-pmu.h>
+#include <linux/zalloc.h>
 
 #include "../../util/auxtrace.h"
 #include "../../util/evlist.h"
diff --git a/tools/perf/arch/arm/util/cs-etm.c b/tools/perf/arch/arm/util/cs-etm.c
index 2b83cc8e4796..4208974c24f8 100644
--- a/tools/perf/arch/arm/util/cs-etm.c
+++ b/tools/perf/arch/arm/util/cs-etm.c
@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@
 #include <linux/kernel.h>
 #include <linux/log2.h>
 #include <linux/types.h>
+#include <linux/zalloc.h>
 
 #include "cs-etm.h"
 #include "../../perf.h"
diff --git a/tools/perf/arch/arm64/util/arm-spe.c b/tools/perf/arch/arm64/util/arm-spe.c
index 5ccfce87e693..2c009aa74633 100644
--- a/tools/perf/arch/arm64/util/arm-spe.c
+++ b/tools/perf/arch/arm64/util/arm-spe.c
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@
 #include <linux/types.h>
 #include <linux/bitops.h>
 #include <linux/log2.h>
+#include <linux/zalloc.h>
 #include <time.h>
 
 #include "../../util/cpumap.h"
diff --git a/tools/perf/arch/common.c b/tools/perf/arch/common.c
index f3824ca7c20b..1a9e22f78c22 100644
--- a/tools/perf/arch/common.c
+++ b/tools/perf/arch/common.c
@@ -1,9 +1,10 @@
 // SPDX-License-Identifier: GPL-2.0
 #include <stdio.h>
+#include <stdlib.h>
 #include "common.h"
 #include "../util/env.h"
-#include "../util/util.h"
 #include "../util/debug.h"
+#include <linux/zalloc.h>
 
 const char *const arc_triplets[] = {
 	"arc-linux-",
diff --git a/tools/perf/arch/powerpc/util/perf_regs.c b/tools/perf/arch/powerpc/util/perf_regs.c
index 34d5134681d9..f14102b85509 100644
--- a/tools/perf/arch/powerpc/util/perf_regs.c
+++ b/tools/perf/arch/powerpc/util/perf_regs.c
@@ -2,12 +2,14 @@
 #include <errno.h>
 #include <string.h>
 #include <regex.h>
+#include <linux/zalloc.h>
 
 #include "../../perf.h"
-#include "../../util/util.h"
 #include "../../util/perf_regs.h"
 #include "../../util/debug.h"
 
+#include <linux/kernel.h>
+
 const struct sample_reg sample_reg_masks[] = {
 	SMPL_REG(r0, PERF_REG_POWERPC_R0),
 	SMPL_REG(r1, PERF_REG_POWERPC_R1),
diff --git a/tools/perf/arch/s390/util/auxtrace.c b/tools/perf/arch/s390/util/auxtrace.c
index 44c857388897..0fe1be93f375 100644
--- a/tools/perf/arch/s390/util/auxtrace.c
+++ b/tools/perf/arch/s390/util/auxtrace.c
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@
 #include <linux/types.h>
 #include <linux/bitops.h>
 #include <linux/log2.h>
+#include <linux/zalloc.h>
 
 #include "../../util/evlist.h"
 #include "../../util/auxtrace.h"
diff --git a/tools/perf/arch/s390/util/header.c b/tools/perf/arch/s390/util/header.c
index a25896135abe..8b0b018d896a 100644
--- a/tools/perf/arch/s390/util/header.c
+++ b/tools/perf/arch/s390/util/header.c
@@ -12,9 +12,10 @@
 #include <stdio.h>
 #include <string.h>
 #include <linux/ctype.h>
+#include <linux/kernel.h>
+#include <linux/zalloc.h>
 
 #include "../../util/header.h"
-#include "../../util/util.h"
 
 #define SYSINFO_MANU	"Manufacturer:"
 #define SYSINFO_TYPE	"Type:"
diff --git a/tools/perf/arch/x86/util/event.c b/tools/perf/arch/x86/util/event.c
index 675a0213044d..a3a0b6884779 100644
--- a/tools/perf/arch/x86/util/event.c
+++ b/tools/perf/arch/x86/util/event.c
@@ -1,11 +1,11 @@
 // SPDX-License-Identifier: GPL-2.0
 #include <linux/types.h>
 #include <linux/string.h>
+#include <linux/zalloc.h>
 
 #include "../../util/machine.h"
 #include "../../util/tool.h"
 #include "../../util/map.h"
-#include "../../util/util.h"
 #include "../../util/debug.h"
 
 #if defined(__x86_64__)
diff --git a/tools/perf/arch/x86/util/intel-bts.c b/tools/perf/arch/x86/util/intel-bts.c
index e6d4d9591c79..ec5c1bb84095 100644
--- a/tools/perf/arch/x86/util/intel-bts.c
+++ b/tools/perf/arch/x86/util/intel-bts.c
@@ -9,12 +9,12 @@
 #include <linux/types.h>
 #include <linux/bitops.h>
 #include <linux/log2.h>
+#include <linux/zalloc.h>
 
 #include "../../util/cpumap.h"
 #include "../../util/evsel.h"
 #include "../../util/evlist.h"
 #include "../../util/session.h"
-#include "../../util/util.h"
 #include "../../util/pmu.h"
 #include "../../util/debug.h"
 #include "../../util/tsc.h"
diff --git a/tools/perf/arch/x86/util/intel-pt.c b/tools/perf/arch/x86/util/intel-pt.c
index 9804098dcefb..609088c01e3a 100644
--- a/tools/perf/arch/x86/util/intel-pt.c
+++ b/tools/perf/arch/x86/util/intel-pt.c
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@
 #include <linux/types.h>
 #include <linux/bitops.h>
 #include <linux/log2.h>
+#include <linux/zalloc.h>
 #include <cpuid.h>
 
 #include "../../perf.h"
@@ -25,7 +26,6 @@
 #include "../../util/auxtrace.h"
 #include "../../util/tsc.h"
 #include "../../util/intel-pt.h"
-#include "../../util/util.h"
 
 #define KiB(x) ((x) * 1024)
 #define MiB(x) ((x) * 1024 * 1024)
diff --git a/tools/perf/arch/x86/util/perf_regs.c b/tools/perf/arch/x86/util/perf_regs.c
index 3666c0076df9..0d7b77ff0ae6 100644
--- a/tools/perf/arch/x86/util/perf_regs.c
+++ b/tools/perf/arch/x86/util/perf_regs.c
@@ -2,9 +2,9 @@
 #include <errno.h>
 #include <string.h>
 #include <regex.h>
+#include <linux/zalloc.h>
 
 #include "../../perf.h"
-#include "../../util/util.h"
 #include "../../util/perf_regs.h"
 #include "../../util/debug.h"
 
diff --git a/tools/perf/bench/futex-hash.c b/tools/perf/bench/futex-hash.c
index 9aa3a674829b..a80797763e1f 100644
--- a/tools/perf/bench/futex-hash.c
+++ b/tools/perf/bench/futex-hash.c
@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@
 #include <stdlib.h>
 #include <linux/compiler.h>
 #include <linux/kernel.h>
+#include <linux/zalloc.h>
 #include <sys/time.h>
 
 #include "../util/stat.h"
@@ -214,7 +215,7 @@ int bench_futex_hash(int argc, const char **argv)
 				       &worker[i].futex[nfutexes-1], t);
 		}
 
-		free(worker[i].futex);
+		zfree(&worker[i].futex);
 	}
 
 	print_summary();
diff --git a/tools/perf/bench/futex-lock-pi.c b/tools/perf/bench/futex-lock-pi.c
index 8e9c4753e304..d02330a69745 100644
--- a/tools/perf/bench/futex-lock-pi.c
+++ b/tools/perf/bench/futex-lock-pi.c
@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@
 #include <subcmd/parse-options.h>
 #include <linux/compiler.h>
 #include <linux/kernel.h>
+#include <linux/zalloc.h>
 #include <errno.h>
 #include "bench.h"
 #include "futex.h"
@@ -217,7 +218,7 @@ int bench_futex_lock_pi(int argc, const char **argv)
 			       worker[i].tid, worker[i].futex, t);
 
 		if (multi)
-			free(worker[i].futex);
+			zfree(&worker[i].futex);
 	}
 
 	print_summary();
diff --git a/tools/perf/bench/mem-functions.c b/tools/perf/bench/mem-functions.c
index 0251dd348124..64dc994c72ea 100644
--- a/tools/perf/bench/mem-functions.c
+++ b/tools/perf/bench/mem-functions.c
@@ -9,7 +9,6 @@
 
 #include "debug.h"
 #include "../perf.h"
-#include "../util/util.h"
 #include <subcmd/parse-options.h>
 #include "../util/header.h"
 #include "../util/cloexec.h"
@@ -24,6 +23,7 @@
 #include <sys/time.h>
 #include <errno.h>
 #include <linux/time64.h>
+#include <linux/zalloc.h>
 
 #define K 1024
 
diff --git a/tools/perf/bench/numa.c b/tools/perf/bench/numa.c
index a7784554a80d..a640ca7aaada 100644
--- a/tools/perf/bench/numa.c
+++ b/tools/perf/bench/numa.c
@@ -11,7 +11,6 @@
 
 #include "../perf.h"
 #include "../builtin.h"
-#include "../util/util.h"
 #include <subcmd/parse-options.h>
 #include "../util/cloexec.h"
 
@@ -35,6 +34,7 @@
 #include <linux/kernel.h>
 #include <linux/time64.h>
 #include <linux/numa.h>
+#include <linux/zalloc.h>
 
 #include <numa.h>
 #include <numaif.h>
diff --git a/tools/perf/builtin-annotate.c b/tools/perf/builtin-annotate.c
index 77deb3a40596..e0aa14faf2b5 100644
--- a/tools/perf/builtin-annotate.c
+++ b/tools/perf/builtin-annotate.c
@@ -8,11 +8,11 @@
  */
 #include "builtin.h"
 
-#include "util/util.h"
 #include "util/color.h"
 #include <linux/list.h>
 #include "util/cache.h"
 #include <linux/rbtree.h>
+#include <linux/zalloc.h>
 #include "util/symbol.h"
 
 #include "perf.h"
diff --git a/tools/perf/builtin-bench.c b/tools/perf/builtin-bench.c
index 334c77ffc1d9..b8e7c38ef221 100644
--- a/tools/perf/builtin-bench.c
+++ b/tools/perf/builtin-bench.c
@@ -17,7 +17,6 @@
  *  epoll ... Event poll performance
  */
 #include "perf.h"
-#include "util/util.h"
 #include <subcmd/parse-options.h>
 #include "builtin.h"
 #include "bench/bench.h"
@@ -26,6 +25,7 @@
 #include <stdlib.h>
 #include <string.h>
 #include <sys/prctl.h>
+#include <linux/zalloc.h>
 
 typedef int (*bench_fn_t)(int argc, const char **argv);
 
diff --git a/tools/perf/builtin-c2c.c b/tools/perf/builtin-c2c.c
index 9e6cc868bdb4..e3776f5c2e01 100644
--- a/tools/perf/builtin-c2c.c
+++ b/tools/perf/builtin-c2c.c
@@ -15,9 +15,9 @@
 #include <linux/compiler.h>
 #include <linux/kernel.h>
 #include <linux/stringify.h>
+#include <linux/zalloc.h>
 #include <asm/bug.h>
 #include <sys/param.h>
-#include "util.h"
 #include "debug.h"
 #include "builtin.h"
 #include <subcmd/parse-options.h>
diff --git a/tools/perf/builtin-config.c b/tools/perf/builtin-config.c
index d76f831f94c7..6c1284c87aaa 100644
--- a/tools/perf/builtin-config.c
+++ b/tools/perf/builtin-config.c
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@
 #include "util/debug.h"
 #include "util/config.h"
 #include <linux/string.h>
+#include <stdlib.h>
 
 static bool use_system_config, use_user_config;
 
diff --git a/tools/perf/builtin-diff.c b/tools/perf/builtin-diff.c
index f924b46910b5..f6f5dd15bea7 100644
--- a/tools/perf/builtin-diff.c
+++ b/tools/perf/builtin-diff.c
@@ -16,12 +16,12 @@
 #include "util/tool.h"
 #include "util/sort.h"
 #include "util/symbol.h"
-#include "util/util.h"
 #include "util/data.h"
 #include "util/config.h"
 #include "util/time-utils.h"
 #include "util/annotate.h"
 #include "util/map.h"
+#include <linux/zalloc.h>
 
 #include <errno.h>
 #include <inttypes.h>
diff --git a/tools/perf/builtin-ftrace.c b/tools/perf/builtin-ftrace.c
index 9c228c55e1fb..66d5a6658daf 100644
--- a/tools/perf/builtin-ftrace.c
+++ b/tools/perf/builtin-ftrace.c
@@ -431,7 +431,7 @@ static void delete_filter_func(struct list_head *head)
 	struct filter_entry *pos, *tmp;
 
 	list_for_each_entry_safe(pos, tmp, head, list) {
-		list_del(&pos->list);
+		list_del_init(&pos->list);
 		free(pos);
 	}
 }
diff --git a/tools/perf/builtin-help.c b/tools/perf/builtin-help.c
index 3d29d0524a89..a83af92fb0d1 100644
--- a/tools/perf/builtin-help.c
+++ b/tools/perf/builtin-help.c
@@ -14,8 +14,10 @@
 #include <subcmd/help.h>
 #include "util/debug.h"
 #include <linux/kernel.h>
+#include <linux/zalloc.h>
 #include <errno.h>
 #include <stdio.h>
+#include <stdlib.h>
 #include <sys/types.h>
 #include <sys/stat.h>
 #include <unistd.h>
diff --git a/tools/perf/builtin-inject.c b/tools/perf/builtin-inject.c
index 8e0e06d3edfc..f4591a1438b4 100644
--- a/tools/perf/builtin-inject.c
+++ b/tools/perf/builtin-inject.c
@@ -224,7 +224,7 @@ static int perf_event__repipe_sample(struct perf_tool *tool,
 				     struct perf_evsel *evsel,
 				     struct machine *machine)
 {
-	if (evsel->handler) {
+	if (evsel && evsel->handler) {
 		inject_handler f = evsel->handler;
 		return f(tool, event, sample, evsel, machine);
 	}
diff --git a/tools/perf/builtin-kmem.c b/tools/perf/builtin-kmem.c
index 9bd3829de76d..9e5e60898083 100644
--- a/tools/perf/builtin-kmem.c
+++ b/tools/perf/builtin-kmem.c
@@ -4,7 +4,6 @@
 
 #include "util/evlist.h"
 #include "util/evsel.h"
-#include "util/util.h"
 #include "util/config.h"
 #include "util/map.h"
 #include "util/symbol.h"
@@ -26,6 +25,7 @@
 #include <linux/kernel.h>
 #include <linux/rbtree.h>
 #include <linux/string.h>
+#include <linux/zalloc.h>
 #include <errno.h>
 #include <inttypes.h>
 #include <locale.h>
diff --git a/tools/perf/builtin-kvm.c b/tools/perf/builtin-kvm.c
index dbb6f737a3e2..b33c83489120 100644
--- a/tools/perf/builtin-kvm.c
+++ b/tools/perf/builtin-kvm.c
@@ -5,7 +5,6 @@
 #include "util/evsel.h"
 #include "util/evlist.h"
 #include "util/term.h"
-#include "util/util.h"
 #include "util/cache.h"
 #include "util/symbol.h"
 #include "util/thread.h"
@@ -32,6 +31,7 @@
 
 #include <linux/kernel.h>
 #include <linux/time64.h>
+#include <linux/zalloc.h>
 #include <errno.h>
 #include <inttypes.h>
 #include <poll.h>
diff --git a/tools/perf/builtin-lock.c b/tools/perf/builtin-lock.c
index b9810a8d350a..574e30ec6d7c 100644
--- a/tools/perf/builtin-lock.c
+++ b/tools/perf/builtin-lock.c
@@ -6,7 +6,6 @@
 
 #include "util/evlist.h"
 #include "util/evsel.h"
-#include "util/util.h"
 #include "util/cache.h"
 #include "util/symbol.h"
 #include "util/thread.h"
@@ -30,6 +29,7 @@
 #include <linux/list.h>
 #include <linux/hash.h>
 #include <linux/kernel.h>
+#include <linux/zalloc.h>
 
 static struct perf_session *session;
 
@@ -454,7 +454,7 @@ static int report_lock_acquire_event(struct perf_evsel *evsel,
 		/* broken lock sequence, discard it */
 		ls->discard = 1;
 		bad_hist[BROKEN_ACQUIRE]++;
-		list_del(&seq->list);
+		list_del_init(&seq->list);
 		free(seq);
 		goto end;
 	default:
@@ -515,7 +515,7 @@ static int report_lock_acquired_event(struct perf_evsel *evsel,
 		/* broken lock sequence, discard it */
 		ls->discard = 1;
 		bad_hist[BROKEN_ACQUIRED]++;
-		list_del(&seq->list);
+		list_del_init(&seq->list);
 		free(seq);
 		goto end;
 	default:
@@ -570,7 +570,7 @@ static int report_lock_contended_event(struct perf_evsel *evsel,
 		/* broken lock sequence, discard it */
 		ls->discard = 1;
 		bad_hist[BROKEN_CONTENDED]++;
-		list_del(&seq->list);
+		list_del_init(&seq->list);
 		free(seq);
 		goto end;
 	default:
@@ -639,7 +639,7 @@ static int report_lock_release_event(struct perf_evsel *evsel,
 
 	ls->nr_release++;
 free_seq:
-	list_del(&seq->list);
+	list_del_init(&seq->list);
 	free(seq);
 end:
 	return 0;
diff --git a/tools/perf/builtin-probe.c b/tools/perf/builtin-probe.c
index 8bb124e55c6d..6418782951a4 100644
--- a/tools/perf/builtin-probe.c
+++ b/tools/perf/builtin-probe.c
@@ -19,7 +19,6 @@
 #include "perf.h"
 #include "builtin.h"
 #include "namespaces.h"
-#include "util/util.h"
 #include "util/strlist.h"
 #include "util/strfilter.h"
 #include "util/symbol.h"
@@ -28,6 +27,7 @@
 #include "util/probe-finder.h"
 #include "util/probe-event.h"
 #include "util/probe-file.h"
+#include <linux/zalloc.h>
 
 #define DEFAULT_VAR_FILTER "!__k???tab_* & !__crc_*"
 #define DEFAULT_FUNC_FILTER "!_*"
diff --git a/tools/perf/builtin-record.c b/tools/perf/builtin-record.c
index dca55997934e..8779cee58185 100644
--- a/tools/perf/builtin-record.c
+++ b/tools/perf/builtin-record.c
@@ -11,7 +11,6 @@
 #include "perf.h"
 
 #include "util/build-id.h"
-#include "util/util.h"
 #include <subcmd/parse-options.h>
 #include "util/parse-events.h"
 #include "util/config.h"
@@ -54,6 +53,7 @@
 #include <sys/mman.h>
 #include <sys/wait.h>
 #include <linux/time64.h>
+#include <linux/zalloc.h>
 
 struct switch_output {
 	bool		 enabled;
@@ -1110,7 +1110,7 @@ record__switch_output(struct record *rec, bool at_exit)
 		rec->switch_output.cur_file = n;
 		if (rec->switch_output.filenames[n]) {
 			remove(rec->switch_output.filenames[n]);
-			free(rec->switch_output.filenames[n]);
+			zfree(&rec->switch_output.filenames[n]);
 		}
 		rec->switch_output.filenames[n] = new_filename;
 	} else {
diff --git a/tools/perf/builtin-report.c b/tools/perf/builtin-report.c
index aef59f318a67..abf0b9b8f566 100644
--- a/tools/perf/builtin-report.c
+++ b/tools/perf/builtin-report.c
@@ -8,7 +8,6 @@
  */
 #include "builtin.h"
 
-#include "util/util.h"
 #include "util/config.h"
 
 #include "util/annotate.h"
@@ -16,6 +15,7 @@
 #include <linux/list.h>
 #include <linux/rbtree.h>
 #include <linux/err.h>
+#include <linux/zalloc.h>
 #include "util/map.h"
 #include "util/symbol.h"
 #include "util/callchain.h"
@@ -298,7 +298,7 @@ static int process_read_event(struct perf_tool *tool,
 	struct report *rep = container_of(tool, struct report, tool);
 
 	if (rep->show_threads) {
-		const char *name = evsel ? perf_evsel__name(evsel) : "unknown";
+		const char *name = perf_evsel__name(evsel);
 		int err = perf_read_values_add_value(&rep->show_threads_values,
 					   event->read.pid, event->read.tid,
 					   evsel->idx,
diff --git a/tools/perf/builtin-sched.c b/tools/perf/builtin-sched.c
index 1519989961ff..56d1907b1215 100644
--- a/tools/perf/builtin-sched.c
+++ b/tools/perf/builtin-sched.c
@@ -2,7 +2,6 @@
 #include "builtin.h"
 #include "perf.h"
 
-#include "util/util.h"
 #include "util/evlist.h"
 #include "util/cache.h"
 #include "util/evsel.h"
@@ -26,6 +25,7 @@
 
 #include <linux/kernel.h>
 #include <linux/log2.h>
+#include <linux/zalloc.h>
 #include <sys/prctl.h>
 #include <sys/resource.h>
 #include <inttypes.h>
diff --git a/tools/perf/builtin-script.c b/tools/perf/builtin-script.c
index 2f6232f1bfdc..79367087bd18 100644
--- a/tools/perf/builtin-script.c
+++ b/tools/perf/builtin-script.c
@@ -14,7 +14,6 @@
 #include "util/symbol.h"
 #include "util/thread.h"
 #include "util/trace-event.h"
-#include "util/util.h"
 #include "util/evlist.h"
 #include "util/evsel.h"
 #include "util/sort.h"
@@ -34,6 +33,7 @@
 #include <linux/kernel.h>
 #include <linux/stringify.h>
 #include <linux/time64.h>
+#include <linux/zalloc.h>
 #include <sys/utsname.h>
 #include "asm/bug.h"
 #include "util/mem-events.h"
@@ -3752,7 +3752,8 @@ int cmd_script(int argc, const char **argv)
 		goto out_delete;
 
 	uname(&uts);
-	if (!strcmp(uts.machine, session->header.env.arch) ||
+	if (data.is_pipe ||  /* assume pipe_mode indicates native_arch */
+	    !strcmp(uts.machine, session->header.env.arch) ||
 	    (!strcmp(uts.machine, "x86_64") &&
 	     !strcmp(session->header.env.arch, "i386")))
 		native_arch = true;
diff --git a/tools/perf/builtin-stat.c b/tools/perf/builtin-stat.c
index e5e19b461061..b55a534b4de0 100644
--- a/tools/perf/builtin-stat.c
+++ b/tools/perf/builtin-stat.c
@@ -43,7 +43,6 @@
 #include "perf.h"
 #include "builtin.h"
 #include "util/cgroup.h"
-#include "util/util.h"
 #include <subcmd/parse-options.h>
 #include "util/parse-events.h"
 #include "util/pmu.h"
@@ -67,6 +66,7 @@
 #include "asm/bug.h"
 
 #include <linux/time64.h>
+#include <linux/zalloc.h>
 #include <api/fs/fs.h>
 #include <errno.h>
 #include <signal.h>
@@ -1349,8 +1349,8 @@ static int add_default_attributes(void)
 				fprintf(stderr,
 					"Cannot set up top down events %s: %d\n",
 					str, err);
-				free(str);
 				parse_events_print_error(&errinfo, str);
+				free(str);
 				return -1;
 			}
 		} else {
@@ -1586,7 +1586,7 @@ static void runtime_stat_delete(struct perf_stat_config *config)
 	for (i = 0; i < config->stats_num; i++)
 		runtime_stat__exit(&config->stats[i]);
 
-	free(config->stats);
+	zfree(&config->stats);
 }
 
 static const char * const stat_report_usage[] = {
@@ -2003,7 +2003,7 @@ int cmd_stat(int argc, const char **argv)
 	perf_stat__exit_aggr_mode();
 	perf_evlist__free_stats(evsel_list);
 out:
-	free(stat_config.walltime_run);
+	zfree(&stat_config.walltime_run);
 
 	if (smi_cost && smi_reset)
 		sysfs__write_int(FREEZE_ON_SMI_PATH, 0);
diff --git a/tools/perf/builtin-timechart.c b/tools/perf/builtin-timechart.c
index 145a19668114..4bde3fa245d1 100644
--- a/tools/perf/builtin-timechart.c
+++ b/tools/perf/builtin-timechart.c
@@ -13,9 +13,6 @@
 #include <traceevent/event-parse.h>
 
 #include "builtin.h"
-
-#include "util/util.h"
-
 #include "util/color.h"
 #include <linux/list.h>
 #include "util/cache.h"
@@ -24,6 +21,7 @@
 #include <linux/kernel.h>
 #include <linux/rbtree.h>
 #include <linux/time64.h>
+#include <linux/zalloc.h>
 #include "util/symbol.h"
 #include "util/thread.h"
 #include "util/callchain.h"
diff --git a/tools/perf/builtin-top.c b/tools/perf/builtin-top.c
index 6d40a4ef58c5..b46b3c9f57a0 100644
--- a/tools/perf/builtin-top.c
+++ b/tools/perf/builtin-top.c
@@ -101,7 +101,7 @@ static void perf_top__resize(struct perf_top *top)
 
 static int perf_top__parse_source(struct perf_top *top, struct hist_entry *he)
 {
-	struct perf_evsel *evsel = hists_to_evsel(he->hists);
+	struct perf_evsel *evsel;
 	struct symbol *sym;
 	struct annotation *notes;
 	struct map *map;
@@ -110,6 +110,8 @@ static int perf_top__parse_source(struct perf_top *top, struct hist_entry *he)
 	if (!he || !he->ms.sym)
 		return -1;
 
+	evsel = hists_to_evsel(he->hists);
+
 	sym = he->ms.sym;
 	map = he->ms.map;
 
@@ -226,7 +228,7 @@ static void perf_top__record_precise_ip(struct perf_top *top,
 static void perf_top__show_details(struct perf_top *top)
 {
 	struct hist_entry *he = top->sym_filter_entry;
-	struct perf_evsel *evsel = hists_to_evsel(he->hists);
+	struct perf_evsel *evsel;
 	struct annotation *notes;
 	struct symbol *symbol;
 	int more;
@@ -234,6 +236,8 @@ static void perf_top__show_details(struct perf_top *top)
 	if (!he)
 		return;
 
+	evsel = hists_to_evsel(he->hists);
+
 	symbol = he->ms.sym;
 	notes = symbol__annotation(symbol);
 
diff --git a/tools/perf/builtin-trace.c b/tools/perf/builtin-trace.c
index d0eb7224dd36..1aa2ed096f65 100644
--- a/tools/perf/builtin-trace.c
+++ b/tools/perf/builtin-trace.c
@@ -61,6 +61,7 @@
 #include <linux/random.h>
 #include <linux/stringify.h>
 #include <linux/time64.h>
+#include <linux/zalloc.h>
 #include <fcntl.h>
 #include <sys/sysmacros.h>
 
@@ -1038,10 +1039,10 @@ static struct thread_trace *thread_trace__new(void)
 {
 	struct thread_trace *ttrace =  zalloc(sizeof(struct thread_trace));
 
-	if (ttrace)
+	if (ttrace) {
 		ttrace->files.max = -1;
-
-	ttrace->syscall_stats = intlist__new(NULL);
+		ttrace->syscall_stats = intlist__new(NULL);
+	}
 
 	return ttrace;
 }
diff --git a/tools/perf/perf.c b/tools/perf/perf.c
index 2123b3cc4dcf..97e2628ea5dd 100644
--- a/tools/perf/perf.c
+++ b/tools/perf/perf.c
@@ -18,7 +18,6 @@
 #include "util/bpf-loader.h"
 #include "util/debug.h"
 #include "util/event.h"
-#include "util/util.h"
 #include <api/fs/fs.h>
 #include <api/fs/tracing_path.h>
 #include <errno.h>
@@ -30,6 +29,7 @@
 #include <sys/stat.h>
 #include <unistd.h>
 #include <linux/kernel.h>
+#include <linux/zalloc.h>
 
 const char perf_usage_string[] =
 	"perf [--version] [--help] [OPTIONS] COMMAND [ARGS]";
diff --git a/tools/perf/pmu-events/jevents.c b/tools/perf/pmu-events/jevents.c
index 287a6f10ca48..1a91a197cafb 100644
--- a/tools/perf/pmu-events/jevents.c
+++ b/tools/perf/pmu-events/jevents.c
@@ -407,7 +407,7 @@ static void free_arch_std_events(void)
 
 	list_for_each_entry_safe(es, next, &arch_std_events, list) {
 		FOR_ALL_EVENT_STRUCT_FIELDS(FREE_EVENT_FIELD);
-		list_del(&es->list);
+		list_del_init(&es->list);
 		free(es);
 	}
 }
diff --git a/tools/perf/scripts/python/export-to-postgresql.py b/tools/perf/scripts/python/export-to-postgresql.py
index 4447f0d7c754..92713d93e956 100644
--- a/tools/perf/scripts/python/export-to-postgresql.py
+++ b/tools/perf/scripts/python/export-to-postgresql.py
@@ -898,11 +898,11 @@ def trace_end():
 	if is_table_empty("ptwrite"):
 		drop("ptwrite")
 	if is_table_empty("mwait") and is_table_empty("pwre") and is_table_empty("exstop") and is_table_empty("pwrx"):
+		do_query(query, 'DROP VIEW power_events_view');
 		drop("mwait")
 		drop("pwre")
 		drop("exstop")
 		drop("pwrx")
-		do_query(query, 'DROP VIEW power_events_view');
 		if is_table_empty("cbr"):
 			drop("cbr")
 
diff --git a/tools/perf/scripts/python/export-to-sqlite.py b/tools/perf/scripts/python/export-to-sqlite.py
index 3222a83f4184..021326c46285 100644
--- a/tools/perf/scripts/python/export-to-sqlite.py
+++ b/tools/perf/scripts/python/export-to-sqlite.py
@@ -608,11 +608,11 @@ def trace_end():
 	if is_table_empty("ptwrite"):
 		drop("ptwrite")
 	if is_table_empty("mwait") and is_table_empty("pwre") and is_table_empty("exstop") and is_table_empty("pwrx"):
+		do_query(query, 'DROP VIEW power_events_view');
 		drop("mwait")
 		drop("pwre")
 		drop("exstop")
 		drop("pwrx")
-		do_query(query, 'DROP VIEW power_events_view');
 		if is_table_empty("cbr"):
 			drop("cbr")
 
diff --git a/tools/perf/tests/dwarf-unwind.c b/tools/perf/tests/dwarf-unwind.c
index 077c306c1cae..f33709a79335 100644
--- a/tools/perf/tests/dwarf-unwind.c
+++ b/tools/perf/tests/dwarf-unwind.c
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 // SPDX-License-Identifier: GPL-2.0
 #include <linux/compiler.h>
 #include <linux/types.h>
+#include <linux/zalloc.h>
 #include <inttypes.h>
 #include <unistd.h>
 #include "tests.h"
@@ -115,8 +116,8 @@ noinline int test_dwarf_unwind__thread(struct thread *thread)
 	}
 
  out:
-	free(sample.user_stack.data);
-	free(sample.user_regs.regs);
+	zfree(&sample.user_stack.data);
+	zfree(&sample.user_regs.regs);
 	return err;
 }
 
diff --git a/tools/perf/tests/expr.c b/tools/perf/tests/expr.c
index 9acc1e80b936..ee1d88650e69 100644
--- a/tools/perf/tests/expr.c
+++ b/tools/perf/tests/expr.c
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@
 #include "util/expr.h"
 #include "tests.h"
 #include <stdlib.h>
+#include <linux/zalloc.h>
 
 static int test(struct parse_ctx *ctx, const char *e, double val2)
 {
@@ -58,7 +59,7 @@ int test__expr(struct test *t __maybe_unused, int subtest __maybe_unused)
 	TEST_ASSERT_VAL("find other", other[3] == NULL);
 
 	for (i = 0; i < num_other; i++)
-		free((void *)other[i]);
+		zfree(&other[i]);
 	free((void *)other);
 
 	return 0;
diff --git a/tools/perf/tests/llvm.c b/tools/perf/tests/llvm.c
index a039f93199e5..ca5a5f94ce79 100644
--- a/tools/perf/tests/llvm.c
+++ b/tools/perf/tests/llvm.c
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 // SPDX-License-Identifier: GPL-2.0
 #include <stdio.h>
+#include <stdlib.h>
 #include <bpf/libbpf.h>
 #include <util/llvm-utils.h>
 #include <util/cache.h>
diff --git a/tools/perf/tests/mem2node.c b/tools/perf/tests/mem2node.c
index d23ff1b68eba..520cc91af256 100644
--- a/tools/perf/tests/mem2node.c
+++ b/tools/perf/tests/mem2node.c
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 // SPDX-License-Identifier: GPL-2.0
 #include <linux/compiler.h>
 #include <linux/bitmap.h>
+#include <linux/zalloc.h>
 #include "cpumap.h"
 #include "mem2node.h"
 #include "tests.h"
@@ -67,7 +68,7 @@ int test__mem2node(struct test *t __maybe_unused, int subtest __maybe_unused)
 	T("failed: mem2node__node", -1 == mem2node__node(&map, 0x1050));
 
 	for (i = 0; i < ARRAY_SIZE(nodes); i++)
-		free(nodes[i].set);
+		zfree(&nodes[i].set);
 
 	mem2node__exit(&map);
 	return 0;
diff --git a/tools/perf/tests/mmap-thread-lookup.c b/tools/perf/tests/mmap-thread-lookup.c
index ba87e6e8d18c..0a4301a5155c 100644
--- a/tools/perf/tests/mmap-thread-lookup.c
+++ b/tools/perf/tests/mmap-thread-lookup.c
@@ -53,7 +53,7 @@ static void *thread_fn(void *arg)
 {
 	struct thread_data *td = arg;
 	ssize_t ret;
-	int go;
+	int go = 0;
 
 	if (thread_init(td))
 		return NULL;
diff --git a/tools/perf/tests/sample-parsing.c b/tools/perf/tests/sample-parsing.c
index 236ce0d6c826..361714e2583c 100644
--- a/tools/perf/tests/sample-parsing.c
+++ b/tools/perf/tests/sample-parsing.c
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 // SPDX-License-Identifier: GPL-2.0
 #include <stdbool.h>
 #include <inttypes.h>
+#include <stdlib.h>
 #include <linux/bitops.h>
 #include <linux/kernel.h>
 #include <linux/types.h>
diff --git a/tools/perf/tests/switch-tracking.c b/tools/perf/tests/switch-tracking.c
index 9b5be51e5e7b..6cdab5f4812a 100644
--- a/tools/perf/tests/switch-tracking.c
+++ b/tools/perf/tests/switch-tracking.c
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@
 #include <errno.h>
 #include <time.h>
 #include <stdlib.h>
+#include <linux/zalloc.h>
 
 #include "parse-events.h"
 #include "evlist.h"
@@ -237,7 +238,7 @@ static void free_event_nodes(struct list_head *events)
 
 	while (!list_empty(events)) {
 		node = list_entry(events->next, struct event_node, list);
-		list_del(&node->list);
+		list_del_init(&node->list);
 		free(node);
 	}
 }
diff --git a/tools/perf/tests/thread-map.c b/tools/perf/tests/thread-map.c
index 4de1939b58ba..ccc17aced49e 100644
--- a/tools/perf/tests/thread-map.c
+++ b/tools/perf/tests/thread-map.c
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@
 #include "tests.h"
 #include "thread_map.h"
 #include "debug.h"
+#include <linux/zalloc.h>
 
 #define NAME	(const char *) "perf"
 #define NAMEUL	(unsigned long) NAME
@@ -133,7 +134,7 @@ int test__thread_map_remove(struct test *test __maybe_unused, int subtest __mayb
 			thread_map__remove(threads, 0));
 
 	for (i = 0; i < threads->nr; i++)
-		free(threads->map[i].comm);
+		zfree(&threads->map[i].comm);
 
 	free(threads);
 	return 0;
diff --git a/tools/perf/tests/vmlinux-kallsyms.c b/tools/perf/tests/vmlinux-kallsyms.c
index f101576d1c72..5e8834fc7dec 100644
--- a/tools/perf/tests/vmlinux-kallsyms.c
+++ b/tools/perf/tests/vmlinux-kallsyms.c
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@
 #include <linux/rbtree.h>
 #include <inttypes.h>
 #include <string.h>
+#include <stdlib.h>
 #include "map.h"
 #include "symbol.h"
 #include "util.h"
diff --git a/tools/perf/ui/browser.c b/tools/perf/ui/browser.c
index 55ff05a46e0b..f80c51d53565 100644
--- a/tools/perf/ui/browser.c
+++ b/tools/perf/ui/browser.c
@@ -1,5 +1,4 @@
 // SPDX-License-Identifier: GPL-2.0
-#include "../util.h"
 #include "../string2.h"
 #include "../config.h"
 #include "../../perf.h"
@@ -17,6 +16,7 @@
 #include "keysyms.h"
 #include "../color.h"
 #include <linux/ctype.h>
+#include <linux/zalloc.h>
 
 static int ui_browser__percent_color(struct ui_browser *browser,
 				     double percent, bool current)
diff --git a/tools/perf/ui/browser.h b/tools/perf/ui/browser.h
index aa5932e1d62e..dc1444136658 100644
--- a/tools/perf/ui/browser.h
+++ b/tools/perf/ui/browser.h
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@
 
 #include <linux/types.h>
 #include <stdarg.h>
+#include <sys/types.h>
 
 #define HE_COLORSET_TOP		50
 #define HE_COLORSET_MEDIUM	51
diff --git a/tools/perf/ui/browsers/annotate.c b/tools/perf/ui/browsers/annotate.c
index b0d089a95dac..e67880bf1efe 100644
--- a/tools/perf/ui/browsers/annotate.c
+++ b/tools/perf/ui/browsers/annotate.c
@@ -1,5 +1,4 @@
 // SPDX-License-Identifier: GPL-2.0
-#include "../../util/util.h"
 #include "../browser.h"
 #include "../helpline.h"
 #include "../ui.h"
@@ -15,6 +14,7 @@
 #include <pthread.h>
 #include <linux/kernel.h>
 #include <linux/string.h>
+#include <linux/zalloc.h>
 #include <sys/ttydefaults.h>
 #include <asm/bug.h>
 
diff --git a/tools/perf/ui/browsers/hists.c b/tools/perf/ui/browsers/hists.c
index 33e67aa91347..a94eb0755e8b 100644
--- a/tools/perf/ui/browsers/hists.c
+++ b/tools/perf/ui/browsers/hists.c
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@
 #include <linux/string.h>
 #include <sys/ttydefaults.h>
 #include <linux/time64.h>
+#include <linux/zalloc.h>
 
 #include "../../util/callchain.h"
 #include "../../util/evsel.h"
@@ -18,7 +19,6 @@
 #include "../../util/symbol.h"
 #include "../../util/pstack.h"
 #include "../../util/sort.h"
-#include "../../util/util.h"
 #include "../../util/top.h"
 #include "../../util/thread.h"
 #include "../../arch/common.h"
@@ -639,7 +639,11 @@ int hist_browser__run(struct hist_browser *browser, const char *help,
 		switch (key) {
 		case K_TIMER: {
 			u64 nr_entries;
-			hbt->timer(hbt->arg);
+
+			WARN_ON_ONCE(!hbt);
+
+			if (hbt)
+				hbt->timer(hbt->arg);
 
 			if (hist_browser__has_filter(browser) ||
 			    symbol_conf.report_hierarchy)
@@ -2821,7 +2825,7 @@ static int perf_evsel__hists_browse(struct perf_evsel *evsel, int nr_events,
 {
 	struct hists *hists = evsel__hists(evsel);
 	struct hist_browser *browser = perf_evsel_browser__new(evsel, hbt, env, annotation_opts);
-	struct branch_info *bi;
+	struct branch_info *bi = NULL;
 #define MAX_OPTIONS  16
 	char *options[MAX_OPTIONS];
 	struct popup_action actions[MAX_OPTIONS];
@@ -3087,7 +3091,9 @@ static int perf_evsel__hists_browse(struct perf_evsel *evsel, int nr_events,
 			goto skip_annotation;
 
 		if (sort__mode == SORT_MODE__BRANCH) {
-			bi = browser->he_selection->branch_info;
+
+			if (browser->he_selection)
+				bi = browser->he_selection->branch_info;
 
 			if (bi == NULL)
 				goto skip_annotation;
@@ -3271,7 +3277,8 @@ static int perf_evsel_menu__run(struct perf_evsel_menu *menu,
 
 		switch (key) {
 		case K_TIMER:
-			hbt->timer(hbt->arg);
+			if (hbt)
+				hbt->timer(hbt->arg);
 
 			if (!menu->lost_events_warned &&
 			    menu->lost_events &&
diff --git a/tools/perf/ui/browsers/map.c b/tools/perf/ui/browsers/map.c
index 5f6529c9eb8e..4c545b92e20d 100644
--- a/tools/perf/ui/browsers/map.c
+++ b/tools/perf/ui/browsers/map.c
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@
 #include <elf.h>
 #include <inttypes.h>
 #include <sys/ttydefaults.h>
+#include <stdlib.h>
 #include <string.h>
 #include <linux/bitops.h>
 #include "../../util/util.h"
diff --git a/tools/perf/ui/browsers/res_sample.c b/tools/perf/ui/browsers/res_sample.c
index c0dd73176d42..8aa3547bb9ff 100644
--- a/tools/perf/ui/browsers/res_sample.c
+++ b/tools/perf/ui/browsers/res_sample.c
@@ -1,6 +1,5 @@
 // SPDX-License-Identifier: GPL-2.0
 /* Display a menu with individual samples to browse with perf script */
-#include "util.h"
 #include "hist.h"
 #include "evsel.h"
 #include "hists.h"
@@ -8,6 +7,7 @@
 #include "config.h"
 #include "time-utils.h"
 #include <linux/time64.h>
+#include <linux/zalloc.h>
 
 static u64 context_len = 10 * NSEC_PER_MSEC;
 
@@ -46,14 +46,14 @@ int res_sample_browse(struct res_sample *res_samples, int num_res,
 		if (asprintf(&names[i], "%s: CPU %d tid %d", tbuf,
 			     res_samples[i].cpu, res_samples[i].tid) < 0) {
 			while (--i >= 0)
-				free(names[i]);
+				zfree(&names[i]);
 			free(names);
 			return -1;
 		}
 	}
 	choice = ui__popup_menu(num_res, names);
 	for (i = 0; i < num_res; i++)
-		free(names[i]);
+		zfree(&names[i]);
 	free(names);
 
 	if (choice < 0 || choice >= num_res)
diff --git a/tools/perf/ui/browsers/scripts.c b/tools/perf/ui/browsers/scripts.c
index 27cf3ab88d13..4d565cc14076 100644
--- a/tools/perf/ui/browsers/scripts.c
+++ b/tools/perf/ui/browsers/scripts.c
@@ -1,12 +1,12 @@
 // SPDX-License-Identifier: GPL-2.0
 #include "../../util/sort.h"
-#include "../../util/util.h"
 #include "../../util/hist.h"
 #include "../../util/debug.h"
 #include "../../util/symbol.h"
 #include "../browser.h"
 #include "../libslang.h"
 #include "config.h"
+#include <linux/zalloc.h>
 
 #define SCRIPT_NAMELEN	128
 #define SCRIPT_MAX_NO	64
@@ -142,7 +142,7 @@ static int list_scripts(char *script_name, bool *custom,
 out:
 	free(buf);
 	for (i = 0; i < max_std; i++)
-		free(paths[i]);
+		zfree(&paths[i]);
 	return ret;
 }
 
diff --git a/tools/perf/ui/gtk/annotate.c b/tools/perf/ui/gtk/annotate.c
index df49c9ba1785..3af87c18a914 100644
--- a/tools/perf/ui/gtk/annotate.c
+++ b/tools/perf/ui/gtk/annotate.c
@@ -152,7 +152,7 @@ static int perf_gtk__annotate_symbol(GtkWidget *window, struct symbol *sym,
 	gtk_container_add(GTK_CONTAINER(window), view);
 
 	list_for_each_entry_safe(pos, n, &notes->src->source, al.node) {
-		list_del(&pos->al.node);
+		list_del_init(&pos->al.node);
 		disasm_line__free(pos);
 	}
 
diff --git a/tools/perf/ui/gtk/util.c b/tools/perf/ui/gtk/util.c
index 7250d8101c8f..c28bdb7517ac 100644
--- a/tools/perf/ui/gtk/util.c
+++ b/tools/perf/ui/gtk/util.c
@@ -1,11 +1,10 @@
 // SPDX-License-Identifier: GPL-2.0
 #include "../util.h"
-#include "../../util/util.h"
 #include "../../util/debug.h"
 #include "gtk.h"
 
 #include <string.h>
-
+#include <linux/zalloc.h>
 
 struct perf_gtk_context *pgctx;
 
diff --git a/tools/perf/ui/stdio/hist.c b/tools/perf/ui/stdio/hist.c
index 89393c79d870..ee7ea6deed21 100644
--- a/tools/perf/ui/stdio/hist.c
+++ b/tools/perf/ui/stdio/hist.c
@@ -3,7 +3,6 @@
 #include <linux/string.h>
 
 #include "../../util/callchain.h"
-#include "../../util/util.h"
 #include "../../util/hist.h"
 #include "../../util/map.h"
 #include "../../util/map_groups.h"
@@ -14,6 +13,7 @@
 #include "../../util/string2.h"
 #include "../../util/thread.h"
 #include <linux/ctype.h>
+#include <linux/zalloc.h>
 
 static size_t callchain__fprintf_left_margin(FILE *fp, int left_margin)
 {
diff --git a/tools/perf/ui/tui/setup.c b/tools/perf/ui/tui/setup.c
index d4ac41679721..3ad0d3363ac6 100644
--- a/tools/perf/ui/tui/setup.c
+++ b/tools/perf/ui/tui/setup.c
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@
 #include <errno.h>
 #include <signal.h>
 #include <stdbool.h>
+#include <stdlib.h>
 #include <linux/kernel.h>
 #ifdef HAVE_BACKTRACE_SUPPORT
 #include <execinfo.h>
diff --git a/tools/perf/ui/tui/util.c b/tools/perf/ui/tui/util.c
index b9794d6185af..fe5e571816fc 100644
--- a/tools/perf/ui/tui/util.c
+++ b/tools/perf/ui/tui/util.c
@@ -1,8 +1,8 @@
 // SPDX-License-Identifier: GPL-2.0
-#include "../../util/util.h"
 #include <signal.h>
 #include <stdbool.h>
 #include <string.h>
+#include <stdlib.h>
 #include <sys/ttydefaults.h>
 
 #include "../../util/cache.h"
diff --git a/tools/perf/util/Build b/tools/perf/util/Build
index d3408a463060..d7e3b008a613 100644
--- a/tools/perf/util/Build
+++ b/tools/perf/util/Build
@@ -25,6 +25,7 @@ perf-y += rbtree.o
 perf-y += libstring.o
 perf-y += bitmap.o
 perf-y += hweight.o
+perf-y += zalloc.o
 perf-y += smt.o
 perf-y += strbuf.o
 perf-y += string.o
@@ -241,3 +242,7 @@ $(OUTPUT)util/hweight.o: ../lib/hweight.c FORCE
 $(OUTPUT)util/vsprintf.o: ../lib/vsprintf.c FORCE
 	$(call rule_mkdir)
 	$(call if_changed_dep,cc_o_c)
+
+$(OUTPUT)util/zalloc.o: ../lib/zalloc.c FORCE
+	$(call rule_mkdir)
+	$(call if_changed_dep,cc_o_c)
diff --git a/tools/perf/util/annotate.c b/tools/perf/util/annotate.c
index ec7aaf31c2b2..ac9ad2330f93 100644
--- a/tools/perf/util/annotate.c
+++ b/tools/perf/util/annotate.c
@@ -1119,16 +1119,14 @@ static int disasm_line__parse(char *line, const char **namep, char **rawp)
 	*namep = strdup(name);
 
 	if (*namep == NULL)
-		goto out_free_name;
+		goto out;
 
 	(*rawp)[0] = tmp;
 	*rawp = skip_spaces(*rawp);
 
 	return 0;
 
-out_free_name:
-	free((void *)namep);
-	*namep = NULL;
+out:
 	return -1;
 }
 
@@ -1237,8 +1235,7 @@ void disasm_line__free(struct disasm_line *dl)
 		dl->ins.ops->free(&dl->ops);
 	else
 		ins__delete(&dl->ops);
-	free((void *)dl->ins.name);
-	dl->ins.name = NULL;
+	zfree(&dl->ins.name);
 	annotation_line__delete(&dl->al);
 }
 
@@ -1589,7 +1586,7 @@ static void delete_last_nop(struct symbol *sym)
 				return;
 		}
 
-		list_del(&dl->al.node);
+		list_del_init(&dl->al.node);
 		disasm_line__free(dl);
 	}
 }
@@ -2466,7 +2463,7 @@ void annotated_source__purge(struct annotated_source *as)
 	struct annotation_line *al, *n;
 
 	list_for_each_entry_safe(al, n, &as->source, node) {
-		list_del(&al->node);
+		list_del_init(&al->node);
 		disasm_line__free(disasm_line(al));
 	}
 }
diff --git a/tools/perf/util/arm-spe.c b/tools/perf/util/arm-spe.c
index 6067267cc76c..a314e5b26e9d 100644
--- a/tools/perf/util/arm-spe.c
+++ b/tools/perf/util/arm-spe.c
@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@
 #include <linux/types.h>
 #include <linux/bitops.h>
 #include <linux/log2.h>
+#include <linux/zalloc.h>
 
 #include "cpumap.h"
 #include "color.h"
@@ -19,7 +20,6 @@
 #include "evlist.h"
 #include "machine.h"
 #include "session.h"
-#include "util.h"
 #include "thread.h"
 #include "debug.h"
 #include "auxtrace.h"
diff --git a/tools/perf/util/auxtrace.c b/tools/perf/util/auxtrace.c
index bc215fe0b4b4..ec0af36697c4 100644
--- a/tools/perf/util/auxtrace.c
+++ b/tools/perf/util/auxtrace.c
@@ -24,9 +24,9 @@
 #include <stdlib.h>
 #include <stdio.h>
 #include <linux/list.h>
+#include <linux/zalloc.h>
 
 #include "../perf.h"
-#include "util.h"
 #include "evlist.h"
 #include "dso.h"
 #include "map.h"
@@ -408,7 +408,7 @@ void auxtrace_queues__free(struct auxtrace_queues *queues)
 
 			buffer = list_entry(queues->queue_array[i].head.next,
 					    struct auxtrace_buffer, list);
-			list_del(&buffer->list);
+			list_del_init(&buffer->list);
 			auxtrace_buffer__free(buffer);
 		}
 	}
@@ -612,7 +612,7 @@ void auxtrace_index__free(struct list_head *head)
 	struct auxtrace_index *auxtrace_index, *n;
 
 	list_for_each_entry_safe(auxtrace_index, n, head, list) {
-		list_del(&auxtrace_index->list);
+		list_del_init(&auxtrace_index->list);
 		free(auxtrace_index);
 	}
 }
@@ -1413,7 +1413,7 @@ void auxtrace_cache__free(struct auxtrace_cache *c)
 		return;
 
 	auxtrace_cache__drop(c);
-	free(c->hashtable);
+	zfree(&c->hashtable);
 	free(c);
 }
 
@@ -1459,12 +1459,11 @@ void *auxtrace_cache__lookup(struct auxtrace_cache *c, u32 key)
 
 static void addr_filter__free_str(struct addr_filter *filt)
 {
-	free(filt->str);
+	zfree(&filt->str);
 	filt->action   = NULL;
 	filt->sym_from = NULL;
 	filt->sym_to   = NULL;
 	filt->filename = NULL;
-	filt->str      = NULL;
 }
 
 static struct addr_filter *addr_filter__new(void)
diff --git a/tools/perf/util/bpf-loader.c b/tools/perf/util/bpf-loader.c
index 251d9ea6252f..c61974a50aa5 100644
--- a/tools/perf/util/bpf-loader.c
+++ b/tools/perf/util/bpf-loader.c
@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@
 #include <linux/err.h>
 #include <linux/kernel.h>
 #include <linux/string.h>
+#include <linux/zalloc.h>
 #include <errno.h>
 #include "perf.h"
 #include "debug.h"
@@ -828,7 +829,7 @@ static void
 bpf_map_op__delete(struct bpf_map_op *op)
 {
 	if (!list_empty(&op->list))
-		list_del(&op->list);
+		list_del_init(&op->list);
 	if (op->key_type == BPF_MAP_KEY_RANGES)
 		parse_events__clear_array(&op->k.array);
 	free(op);
diff --git a/tools/perf/util/build-id.c b/tools/perf/util/build-id.c
index 89c6913dfc25..f1abfab7aa8c 100644
--- a/tools/perf/util/build-id.c
+++ b/tools/perf/util/build-id.c
@@ -30,6 +30,7 @@
 #include "strlist.h"
 
 #include <linux/ctype.h>
+#include <linux/zalloc.h>
 
 static bool no_buildid_cache;
 
diff --git a/tools/perf/util/call-path.c b/tools/perf/util/call-path.c
index c5b90300304d..5c60b8be1cf6 100644
--- a/tools/perf/util/call-path.c
+++ b/tools/perf/util/call-path.c
@@ -6,8 +6,9 @@
 
 #include <linux/rbtree.h>
 #include <linux/list.h>
+#include <linux/zalloc.h>
+#include <stdlib.h>
 
-#include "util.h"
 #include "call-path.h"
 
 static void call_path__init(struct call_path *cp, struct call_path *parent,
@@ -39,7 +40,7 @@ void call_path_root__free(struct call_path_root *cpr)
 	struct call_path_block *pos, *n;
 
 	list_for_each_entry_safe(pos, n, &cpr->blocks, node) {
-		list_del(&pos->node);
+		list_del_init(&pos->node);
 		free(pos);
 	}
 	free(cpr);
diff --git a/tools/perf/util/callchain.c b/tools/perf/util/callchain.c
index abb608b09269..8d7d8f62fcca 100644
--- a/tools/perf/util/callchain.c
+++ b/tools/perf/util/callchain.c
@@ -16,11 +16,11 @@
 #include <stdbool.h>
 #include <errno.h>
 #include <math.h>
+#include <linux/zalloc.h>
 
 #include "asm/bug.h"
 
 #include "hist.h"
-#include "util.h"
 #include "sort.h"
 #include "machine.h"
 #include "map.h"
@@ -636,7 +636,7 @@ add_child(struct callchain_node *parent,
 		struct callchain_list *call, *tmp;
 
 		list_for_each_entry_safe(call, tmp, &new->val, list) {
-			list_del(&call->list);
+			list_del_init(&call->list);
 			map__zput(call->ms.map);
 			free(call);
 		}
@@ -1002,7 +1002,7 @@ merge_chain_branch(struct callchain_cursor *cursor,
 		callchain_cursor_append(cursor, list->ip,
 					list->ms.map, list->ms.sym,
 					false, NULL, 0, 0, 0, list->srcline);
-		list_del(&list->list);
+		list_del_init(&list->list);
 		map__zput(list->ms.map);
 		free(list);
 	}
@@ -1453,13 +1453,13 @@ static void free_callchain_node(struct callchain_node *node)
 	struct rb_node *n;
 
 	list_for_each_entry_safe(list, tmp, &node->parent_val, list) {
-		list_del(&list->list);
+		list_del_init(&list->list);
 		map__zput(list->ms.map);
 		free(list);
 	}
 
 	list_for_each_entry_safe(list, tmp, &node->val, list) {
-		list_del(&list->list);
+		list_del_init(&list->list);
 		map__zput(list->ms.map);
 		free(list);
 	}
@@ -1544,7 +1544,7 @@ int callchain_node__make_parent_list(struct callchain_node *node)
 
 out:
 	list_for_each_entry_safe(chain, new, &head, list) {
-		list_del(&chain->list);
+		list_del_init(&chain->list);
 		map__zput(chain->ms.map);
 		free(chain);
 	}
diff --git a/tools/perf/util/cgroup.c b/tools/perf/util/cgroup.c
index ccd02634a616..484c29830a81 100644
--- a/tools/perf/util/cgroup.c
+++ b/tools/perf/util/cgroup.c
@@ -1,11 +1,11 @@
 // SPDX-License-Identifier: GPL-2.0
-#include "util.h"
 #include "../perf.h"
 #include <subcmd/parse-options.h>
 #include "evsel.h"
 #include "cgroup.h"
 #include "evlist.h"
 #include <linux/stringify.h>
+#include <linux/zalloc.h>
 #include <sys/types.h>
 #include <sys/stat.h>
 #include <fcntl.h>
@@ -124,7 +124,7 @@ static struct cgroup *cgroup__new(const char *name)
 	return cgroup;
 
 out_free_name:
-	free(cgroup->name);
+	zfree(&cgroup->name);
 out_err:
 	free(cgroup);
 	return NULL;
diff --git a/tools/perf/util/comm.c b/tools/perf/util/comm.c
index 1066de92af12..afb8d4fd2644 100644
--- a/tools/perf/util/comm.c
+++ b/tools/perf/util/comm.c
@@ -1,12 +1,12 @@
 // SPDX-License-Identifier: GPL-2.0
 #include "comm.h"
-#include "util.h"
 #include <errno.h>
 #include <stdlib.h>
 #include <stdio.h>
 #include <string.h>
 #include <linux/refcount.h>
 #include <linux/rbtree.h>
+#include <linux/zalloc.h>
 #include "rwsem.h"
 
 struct comm_str {
diff --git a/tools/perf/util/config.c b/tools/perf/util/config.c
index 752cce853e51..042ffbc8c53f 100644
--- a/tools/perf/util/config.c
+++ b/tools/perf/util/config.c
@@ -11,7 +11,6 @@
  */
 #include <errno.h>
 #include <sys/param.h>
-#include "util.h"
 #include "cache.h"
 #include "callchain.h"
 #include <subcmd/exec-cmd.h>
@@ -23,7 +22,7 @@
 #include <sys/stat.h>
 #include <unistd.h>
 #include <linux/string.h>
-
+#include <linux/zalloc.h>
 #include <linux/ctype.h>
 
 #define MAXNAME (256)
diff --git a/tools/perf/util/counts.c b/tools/perf/util/counts.c
index 03032b410c29..88be9c4365e0 100644
--- a/tools/perf/util/counts.c
+++ b/tools/perf/util/counts.c
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@
 #include <stdlib.h>
 #include "evsel.h"
 #include "counts.h"
-#include "util.h"
+#include <linux/zalloc.h>
 
 struct perf_counts *perf_counts__new(int ncpus, int nthreads)
 {
diff --git a/tools/perf/util/cpumap.c b/tools/perf/util/cpumap.c
index 0d8fbedf7bd5..3acfbe34ebaf 100644
--- a/tools/perf/util/cpumap.c
+++ b/tools/perf/util/cpumap.c
@@ -1,5 +1,4 @@
 // SPDX-License-Identifier: GPL-2.0
-#include "util.h"
 #include <api/fs/fs.h>
 #include "../perf.h"
 #include "cpumap.h"
@@ -11,6 +10,7 @@
 #include "asm/bug.h"
 
 #include <linux/ctype.h>
+#include <linux/zalloc.h>
 
 static int max_cpu_num;
 static int max_present_cpu_num;
diff --git a/tools/perf/util/cputopo.c b/tools/perf/util/cputopo.c
index 26e73a4bd4fe..64336a280967 100644
--- a/tools/perf/util/cputopo.c
+++ b/tools/perf/util/cputopo.c
@@ -2,11 +2,12 @@
 #include <sys/param.h>
 #include <sys/utsname.h>
 #include <inttypes.h>
+#include <stdlib.h>
 #include <api/fs/fs.h>
+#include <linux/zalloc.h>
 
 #include "cputopo.h"
 #include "cpumap.h"
-#include "util.h"
 #include "env.h"
 
 #define CORE_SIB_FMT \
@@ -343,7 +344,7 @@ void numa_topology__delete(struct numa_topology *tp)
 	u32 i;
 
 	for (i = 0; i < tp->nr; i++)
-		free(tp->nodes[i].cpus);
+		zfree(&tp->nodes[i].cpus);
 
 	free(tp);
 }
diff --git a/tools/perf/util/cs-etm-decoder/cs-etm-decoder.c b/tools/perf/util/cs-etm-decoder/cs-etm-decoder.c
index bb45e23018ee..37d7c492b155 100644
--- a/tools/perf/util/cs-etm-decoder/cs-etm-decoder.c
+++ b/tools/perf/util/cs-etm-decoder/cs-etm-decoder.c
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@
 
 #include <linux/err.h>
 #include <linux/list.h>
+#include <linux/zalloc.h>
 #include <stdlib.h>
 #include <opencsd/c_api/opencsd_c_api.h>
 #include <opencsd/etmv4/trc_pkt_types_etmv4.h>
diff --git a/tools/perf/util/cs-etm.c b/tools/perf/util/cs-etm.c
index 0c7776b51045..67b88b599a53 100644
--- a/tools/perf/util/cs-etm.c
+++ b/tools/perf/util/cs-etm.c
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@
 #include <linux/kernel.h>
 #include <linux/log2.h>
 #include <linux/types.h>
+#include <linux/zalloc.h>
 
 #include <opencsd/ocsd_if_types.h>
 #include <stdlib.h>
@@ -554,8 +555,7 @@ static void cs_etm__free_traceid_queues(struct cs_etm_queue *etmq)
 	etmq->traceid_queues_list = NULL;
 
 	/* finally free the traceid_queues array */
-	free(etmq->traceid_queues);
-	etmq->traceid_queues = NULL;
+	zfree(&etmq->traceid_queues);
 }
 
 static void cs_etm__free_queue(void *priv)
@@ -2538,7 +2538,7 @@ int cs_etm__process_auxtrace_info(union perf_event *event,
 		return 0;
 	}
 
-	if (session->itrace_synth_opts && session->itrace_synth_opts->set) {
+	if (session->itrace_synth_opts->set) {
 		etm->synth_opts = *session->itrace_synth_opts;
 	} else {
 		itrace_synth_opts__set_default(&etm->synth_opts,
@@ -2568,7 +2568,7 @@ int cs_etm__process_auxtrace_info(union perf_event *event,
 err_free_metadata:
 	/* No need to check @metadata[j], free(NULL) is supported */
 	for (j = 0; j < num_cpu; j++)
-		free(metadata[j]);
+		zfree(&metadata[j]);
 	zfree(&metadata);
 err_free_traceid_list:
 	intlist__delete(traceid_list);
diff --git a/tools/perf/util/data-convert-bt.c b/tools/perf/util/data-convert-bt.c
index 7b06e7373b9e..ddbcd59f2d9b 100644
--- a/tools/perf/util/data-convert-bt.c
+++ b/tools/perf/util/data-convert-bt.c
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@
 #include <inttypes.h>
 #include <linux/compiler.h>
 #include <linux/kernel.h>
+#include <linux/zalloc.h>
 #include <babeltrace/ctf-writer/writer.h>
 #include <babeltrace/ctf-writer/clock.h>
 #include <babeltrace/ctf-writer/stream.h>
@@ -22,7 +23,6 @@
 #include "asm/bug.h"
 #include "data-convert-bt.h"
 #include "session.h"
-#include "util.h"
 #include "debug.h"
 #include "tool.h"
 #include "evlist.h"
@@ -1353,7 +1353,7 @@ static void free_streams(struct ctf_writer *cw)
 	for (cpu = 0; cpu < cw->stream_cnt; cpu++)
 		ctf_stream__delete(cw->stream[cpu]);
 
-	free(cw->stream);
+	zfree(&cw->stream);
 }
 
 static int ctf_writer__setup_env(struct ctf_writer *cw,
diff --git a/tools/perf/util/data.c b/tools/perf/util/data.c
index 6a64f713710d..1d1b97a92c3f 100644
--- a/tools/perf/util/data.c
+++ b/tools/perf/util/data.c
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 // SPDX-License-Identifier: GPL-2.0
 #include <linux/compiler.h>
 #include <linux/kernel.h>
+#include <linux/zalloc.h>
 #include <sys/types.h>
 #include <sys/stat.h>
 #include <errno.h>
@@ -20,7 +21,7 @@ static void close_dir(struct perf_data_file *files, int nr)
 {
 	while (--nr >= 1) {
 		close(files[nr].fd);
-		free(files[nr].path);
+		zfree(&files[nr].path);
 	}
 	free(files);
 }
diff --git a/tools/perf/util/db-export.c b/tools/perf/util/db-export.c
index 2182f552aac6..2394c7506abe 100644
--- a/tools/perf/util/db-export.c
+++ b/tools/perf/util/db-export.c
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@
  */
 
 #include <errno.h>
+#include <stdlib.h>
 
 #include "evsel.h"
 #include "machine.h"
@@ -13,11 +14,11 @@
 #include "symbol.h"
 #include "map.h"
 #include "event.h"
-#include "util.h"
 #include "thread-stack.h"
 #include "callchain.h"
 #include "call-path.h"
 #include "db-export.h"
+#include <linux/zalloc.h>
 
 struct deferred_export {
 	struct list_head node;
@@ -33,7 +34,7 @@ static int db_export__deferred(struct db_export *dbe)
 		de = list_entry(dbe->deferred.next, struct deferred_export,
 				node);
 		err = dbe->export_comm(dbe, de->comm);
-		list_del(&de->node);
+		list_del_init(&de->node);
 		free(de);
 		if (err)
 			return err;
@@ -49,7 +50,7 @@ static void db_export__free_deferred(struct db_export *dbe)
 	while (!list_empty(&dbe->deferred)) {
 		de = list_entry(dbe->deferred.next, struct deferred_export,
 				node);
-		list_del(&de->node);
+		list_del_init(&de->node);
 		free(de);
 	}
 }
diff --git a/tools/perf/util/debug.c b/tools/perf/util/debug.c
index 3cc578343f48..3780fe42453b 100644
--- a/tools/perf/util/debug.c
+++ b/tools/perf/util/debug.c
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@
 #include <string.h>
 #include <stdarg.h>
 #include <stdio.h>
+#include <stdlib.h>
 #include <sys/wait.h>
 #include <api/debug.h>
 #include <linux/time64.h>
diff --git a/tools/perf/util/demangle-java.c b/tools/perf/util/demangle-java.c
index 5b4900d67c80..763328c151e9 100644
--- a/tools/perf/util/demangle-java.c
+++ b/tools/perf/util/demangle-java.c
@@ -1,14 +1,15 @@
 // SPDX-License-Identifier: GPL-2.0
 #include <sys/types.h>
 #include <stdio.h>
+#include <stdlib.h>
 #include <string.h>
-#include "util.h"
 #include "debug.h"
 #include "symbol.h"
 
 #include "demangle-java.h"
 
 #include <linux/ctype.h>
+#include <linux/kernel.h>
 
 enum {
 	MODE_PREFIX = 0,
diff --git a/tools/perf/util/dso.c b/tools/perf/util/dso.c
index c7fde04400f7..ebc9d46c15a7 100644
--- a/tools/perf/util/dso.c
+++ b/tools/perf/util/dso.c
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@
 #include <asm/bug.h>
 #include <linux/kernel.h>
 #include <linux/string.h>
+#include <linux/zalloc.h>
 #include <sys/time.h>
 #include <sys/resource.h>
 #include <sys/types.h>
@@ -21,7 +22,7 @@
 #include "dso.h"
 #include "machine.h"
 #include "auxtrace.h"
-#include "util.h"
+#include "util.h" /* O_CLOEXEC for older systems */
 #include "debug.h"
 #include "string2.h"
 #include "vdso.h"
@@ -433,7 +434,7 @@ static void dso__list_add(struct dso *dso)
 
 static void dso__list_del(struct dso *dso)
 {
-	list_del(&dso->data.open_entry);
+	list_del_init(&dso->data.open_entry);
 	WARN_ONCE(dso__data_open_cnt <= 0,
 		  "DSO data fd counter out of bounds.");
 	dso__data_open_cnt--;
diff --git a/tools/perf/util/dwarf-aux.c b/tools/perf/util/dwarf-aux.c
index 218bfea8f8a8..03b2de1f5a35 100644
--- a/tools/perf/util/dwarf-aux.c
+++ b/tools/perf/util/dwarf-aux.c
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@
 #include <errno.h>
 #include <inttypes.h>
 #include <stdbool.h>
-#include "util.h"
+#include <stdlib.h>
 #include "debug.h"
 #include "dwarf-aux.h"
 #include "string2.h"
diff --git a/tools/perf/util/env.c b/tools/perf/util/env.c
index 22eee8942527..9909ec40c6d2 100644
--- a/tools/perf/util/env.c
+++ b/tools/perf/util/env.c
@@ -2,11 +2,12 @@
 #include "cpumap.h"
 #include "env.h"
 #include <linux/ctype.h>
-#include "util.h"
+#include <linux/zalloc.h>
 #include "bpf-event.h"
 #include <errno.h>
 #include <sys/utsname.h>
 #include <bpf/libbpf.h>
+#include <stdlib.h>
 
 struct perf_env perf_env;
 
@@ -186,7 +187,7 @@ void perf_env__exit(struct perf_env *env)
 	zfree(&env->caches);
 
 	for (i = 0; i < env->nr_memory_nodes; i++)
-		free(env->memory_nodes[i].set);
+		zfree(&env->memory_nodes[i].set);
 	zfree(&env->memory_nodes);
 }
 
@@ -286,9 +287,9 @@ int perf_env__nr_cpus_avail(struct perf_env *env)
 
 void cpu_cache_level__free(struct cpu_cache_level *cache)
 {
-	free(cache->type);
-	free(cache->map);
-	free(cache->size);
+	zfree(&cache->type);
+	zfree(&cache->map);
+	zfree(&cache->size);
 }
 
 /*
diff --git a/tools/perf/util/event.c b/tools/perf/util/event.c
index e1d0c5ba1f92..f1f4848947ce 100644
--- a/tools/perf/util/event.c
+++ b/tools/perf/util/event.c
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@
 #include <uapi/linux/mman.h> /* To get things like MAP_HUGETLB even on older libc headers */
 #include <api/fs/fs.h>
 #include <linux/perf_event.h>
+#include <linux/zalloc.h>
 #include "event.h"
 #include "debug.h"
 #include "hist.h"
@@ -855,7 +856,7 @@ int perf_event__synthesize_threads(struct perf_tool *tool,
 	free(synthesize_threads);
 free_dirent:
 	for (i = 0; i < n; i++)
-		free(dirent[i]);
+		zfree(&dirent[i]);
 	free(dirent);
 
 	return err;
diff --git a/tools/perf/util/evlist.c b/tools/perf/util/evlist.c
index a474ede17cd6..b0364d923f76 100644
--- a/tools/perf/util/evlist.c
+++ b/tools/perf/util/evlist.c
@@ -5,7 +5,6 @@
  * Parts came from builtin-{top,stat,record}.c, see those files for further
  * copyright notes.
  */
-#include "util.h"
 #include <api/fs/fs.h>
 #include <errno.h>
 #include <inttypes.h>
@@ -33,6 +32,7 @@
 #include <linux/hash.h>
 #include <linux/log2.h>
 #include <linux/err.h>
+#include <linux/zalloc.h>
 
 #ifdef LACKS_SIGQUEUE_PROTOTYPE
 int sigqueue(pid_t pid, int sig, const union sigval value);
diff --git a/tools/perf/util/evsel.c b/tools/perf/util/evsel.c
index 7fb4ae82f34c..ebb46da4dfe5 100644
--- a/tools/perf/util/evsel.c
+++ b/tools/perf/util/evsel.c
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@
 #include <linux/perf_event.h>
 #include <linux/compiler.h>
 #include <linux/err.h>
+#include <linux/zalloc.h>
 #include <sys/ioctl.h>
 #include <sys/resource.h>
 #include <sys/types.h>
@@ -27,7 +28,6 @@
 #include "event.h"
 #include "evsel.h"
 #include "evlist.h"
-#include "util.h"
 #include "cpumap.h"
 #include "thread_map.h"
 #include "target.h"
@@ -1298,7 +1298,7 @@ static void perf_evsel__free_config_terms(struct perf_evsel *evsel)
 	struct perf_evsel_config_term *term, *h;
 
 	list_for_each_entry_safe(term, h, &evsel->config_terms, list) {
-		list_del(&term->list);
+		list_del_init(&term->list);
 		free(term);
 	}
 }
diff --git a/tools/perf/util/get_current_dir_name.c b/tools/perf/util/get_current_dir_name.c
index 267aa609a582..01f32f26552d 100644
--- a/tools/perf/util/get_current_dir_name.c
+++ b/tools/perf/util/get_current_dir_name.c
@@ -1,8 +1,8 @@
-// SPDX-License-Identifier: GPL-2.0
-// Copyright (C) 2018, Red Hat Inc, Arnaldo Carvalho de Melo <acme@redhat.com>
+// SPDX-License-Identifier: LGPL-2.1
+// Copyright (C) 2018, 2019 Red Hat Inc, Arnaldo Carvalho de Melo <acme@redhat.com>
 //
 #ifndef HAVE_GET_CURRENT_DIR_NAME
-#include "util.h"
+#include "get_current_dir_name.h"
 #include <unistd.h>
 #include <stdlib.h>
 #include <stdlib.h>
diff --git a/tools/perf/util/get_current_dir_name.h b/tools/perf/util/get_current_dir_name.h
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..69f7d5537d32
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tools/perf/util/get_current_dir_name.h
@@ -0,0 +1,8 @@
+// SPDX-License-Identifier: LGPL-2.1
+// Copyright (C) 2018, 2019 Red Hat Inc, Arnaldo Carvalho de Melo <acme@redhat.com>
+//
+#ifndef __PERF_GET_CURRENT_DIR_NAME_H
+#ifndef HAVE_GET_CURRENT_DIR_NAME
+char *get_current_dir_name(void);
+#endif // HAVE_GET_CURRENT_DIR_NAME
+#endif // __PERF_GET_CURRENT_DIR_NAME_H
diff --git a/tools/perf/util/header.c b/tools/perf/util/header.c
index 6a93ff5d8db5..c24db7f4909c 100644
--- a/tools/perf/util/header.c
+++ b/tools/perf/util/header.c
@@ -1,7 +1,6 @@
 // SPDX-License-Identifier: GPL-2.0
 #include <errno.h>
 #include <inttypes.h>
-#include "util.h"
 #include "string2.h"
 #include <sys/param.h>
 #include <sys/types.h>
@@ -15,6 +14,7 @@
 #include <linux/bitops.h>
 #include <linux/string.h>
 #include <linux/stringify.h>
+#include <linux/zalloc.h>
 #include <sys/stat.h>
 #include <sys/utsname.h>
 #include <linux/time64.h>
@@ -1052,7 +1052,7 @@ static int cpu_cache_level__read(struct cpu_cache_level *cache, u32 cpu, u16 lev
 
 	scnprintf(file, PATH_MAX, "%s/size", path);
 	if (sysfs__read_str(file, &cache->size, &len)) {
-		free(cache->type);
+		zfree(&cache->type);
 		return -1;
 	}
 
@@ -1061,8 +1061,8 @@ static int cpu_cache_level__read(struct cpu_cache_level *cache, u32 cpu, u16 lev
 
 	scnprintf(file, PATH_MAX, "%s/shared_cpu_list", path);
 	if (sysfs__read_str(file, &cache->map, &len)) {
-		free(cache->map);
-		free(cache->type);
+		zfree(&cache->map);
+		zfree(&cache->type);
 		return -1;
 	}
 
diff --git a/tools/perf/util/help-unknown-cmd.c b/tools/perf/util/help-unknown-cmd.c
index 4f07a5ba5030..ab9e16123626 100644
--- a/tools/perf/util/help-unknown-cmd.c
+++ b/tools/perf/util/help-unknown-cmd.c
@@ -3,9 +3,11 @@
 #include "config.h"
 #include <poll.h>
 #include <stdio.h>
+#include <stdlib.h>
 #include <subcmd/help.h>
 #include "../builtin.h"
 #include "levenshtein.h"
+#include <linux/zalloc.h>
 
 static int autocorrect;
 
diff --git a/tools/perf/util/hist.c b/tools/perf/util/hist.c
index 27cecb59f866..f24fd1954f6c 100644
--- a/tools/perf/util/hist.c
+++ b/tools/perf/util/hist.c
@@ -1,6 +1,5 @@
 // SPDX-License-Identifier: GPL-2.0
 #include "callchain.h"
-#include "util.h"
 #include "build-id.h"
 #include "hist.h"
 #include "map.h"
@@ -20,6 +19,7 @@
 #include <inttypes.h>
 #include <sys/param.h>
 #include <linux/time64.h>
+#include <linux/zalloc.h>
 
 static bool hists__filter_entry_by_dso(struct hists *hists,
 				       struct hist_entry *he);
@@ -472,16 +472,16 @@ static int hist_entry__init(struct hist_entry *he,
 	return 0;
 
 err_srcline:
-	free(he->srcline);
+	zfree(&he->srcline);
 
 err_rawdata:
-	free(he->raw_data);
+	zfree(&he->raw_data);
 
 err_infos:
 	if (he->branch_info) {
 		map__put(he->branch_info->from.map);
 		map__put(he->branch_info->to.map);
-		free(he->branch_info);
+		zfree(&he->branch_info);
 	}
 	if (he->mem_info) {
 		map__put(he->mem_info->iaddr.map);
@@ -489,7 +489,7 @@ static int hist_entry__init(struct hist_entry *he,
 	}
 err:
 	map__zput(he->ms.map);
-	free(he->stat_acc);
+	zfree(&he->stat_acc);
 	return -ENOMEM;
 }
 
@@ -1254,10 +1254,10 @@ void hist_entry__delete(struct hist_entry *he)
 	zfree(&he->stat_acc);
 	free_srcline(he->srcline);
 	if (he->srcfile && he->srcfile[0])
-		free(he->srcfile);
+		zfree(&he->srcfile);
 	free_callchain(he->callchain);
-	free(he->trace_output);
-	free(he->raw_data);
+	zfree(&he->trace_output);
+	zfree(&he->raw_data);
 	ops->free(he);
 }
 
@@ -2741,10 +2741,10 @@ static void hists_evsel__exit(struct perf_evsel *evsel)
 
 	list_for_each_entry_safe(node, tmp, &hists->hpp_formats, list) {
 		perf_hpp_list__for_each_format_safe(&node->hpp, fmt, pos) {
-			list_del(&fmt->list);
+			list_del_init(&fmt->list);
 			free(fmt);
 		}
-		list_del(&node->list);
+		list_del_init(&node->list);
 		free(node);
 	}
 }
diff --git a/tools/perf/util/intel-bts.c b/tools/perf/util/intel-bts.c
index e32dbffebb2f..5560e95afdda 100644
--- a/tools/perf/util/intel-bts.c
+++ b/tools/perf/util/intel-bts.c
@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@
 #include <linux/types.h>
 #include <linux/bitops.h>
 #include <linux/log2.h>
+#include <linux/zalloc.h>
 
 #include "cpumap.h"
 #include "color.h"
@@ -21,7 +22,6 @@
 #include "map.h"
 #include "symbol.h"
 #include "session.h"
-#include "util.h"
 #include "thread.h"
 #include "thread-stack.h"
 #include "debug.h"
@@ -891,13 +891,12 @@ int intel_bts_process_auxtrace_info(union perf_event *event,
 	if (dump_trace)
 		return 0;
 
-	if (session->itrace_synth_opts && session->itrace_synth_opts->set) {
+	if (session->itrace_synth_opts->set) {
 		bts->synth_opts = *session->itrace_synth_opts;
 	} else {
 		itrace_synth_opts__set_default(&bts->synth_opts,
 				session->itrace_synth_opts->default_no_sample);
-		if (session->itrace_synth_opts)
-			bts->synth_opts.thread_stack =
+		bts->synth_opts.thread_stack =
 				session->itrace_synth_opts->thread_stack;
 	}
 
diff --git a/tools/perf/util/intel-pt-decoder/intel-pt-decoder.c b/tools/perf/util/intel-pt-decoder/intel-pt-decoder.c
index 4d14e78c5927..3bfdf2b7a96a 100644
--- a/tools/perf/util/intel-pt-decoder/intel-pt-decoder.c
+++ b/tools/perf/util/intel-pt-decoder/intel-pt-decoder.c
@@ -14,9 +14,9 @@
 #include <stdint.h>
 #include <inttypes.h>
 #include <linux/compiler.h>
+#include <linux/zalloc.h>
 
 #include "../cache.h"
-#include "../util.h"
 #include "../auxtrace.h"
 
 #include "intel-pt-insn-decoder.h"
diff --git a/tools/perf/util/intel-pt.c b/tools/perf/util/intel-pt.c
index 470aaae9d930..df061599fef4 100644
--- a/tools/perf/util/intel-pt.c
+++ b/tools/perf/util/intel-pt.c
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@
 #include <errno.h>
 #include <linux/kernel.h>
 #include <linux/types.h>
+#include <linux/zalloc.h>
 
 #include "../perf.h"
 #include "session.h"
@@ -22,7 +23,6 @@
 #include "evsel.h"
 #include "map.h"
 #include "color.h"
-#include "util.h"
 #include "thread.h"
 #include "thread-stack.h"
 #include "symbol.h"
@@ -3210,7 +3210,7 @@ int intel_pt_process_auxtrace_info(union perf_event *event,
 		goto err_delete_thread;
 	}
 
-	if (session->itrace_synth_opts && session->itrace_synth_opts->set) {
+	if (session->itrace_synth_opts->set) {
 		pt->synth_opts = *session->itrace_synth_opts;
 	} else {
 		itrace_synth_opts__set_default(&pt->synth_opts,
@@ -3220,8 +3220,7 @@ int intel_pt_process_auxtrace_info(union perf_event *event,
 			pt->synth_opts.branches = false;
 			pt->synth_opts.callchain = true;
 		}
-		if (session->itrace_synth_opts)
-			pt->synth_opts.thread_stack =
+		pt->synth_opts.thread_stack =
 				session->itrace_synth_opts->thread_stack;
 	}
 
@@ -3241,11 +3240,9 @@ int intel_pt_process_auxtrace_info(union perf_event *event,
 		pt->cbr2khz = tsc_freq / pt->max_non_turbo_ratio / 1000;
 	}
 
-	if (session->itrace_synth_opts) {
-		err = intel_pt_setup_time_ranges(pt, session->itrace_synth_opts);
-		if (err)
-			goto err_delete_thread;
-	}
+	err = intel_pt_setup_time_ranges(pt, session->itrace_synth_opts);
+	if (err)
+		goto err_delete_thread;
 
 	if (pt->synth_opts.calls)
 		pt->branches_filter |= PERF_IP_FLAG_CALL | PERF_IP_FLAG_ASYNC |
diff --git a/tools/perf/util/jitdump.c b/tools/perf/util/jitdump.c
index 28908afedec4..18c34f0c1966 100644
--- a/tools/perf/util/jitdump.c
+++ b/tools/perf/util/jitdump.c
@@ -29,6 +29,7 @@
 #include "../builtin.h"
 
 #include <linux/ctype.h>
+#include <linux/zalloc.h>
 
 struct jit_buf_desc {
 	struct perf_data *output;
@@ -431,14 +432,12 @@ static int jit_repipe_code_load(struct jit_buf_desc *jd, union jr_entry *jr)
 			   jd->unwinding_data, jd->eh_frame_hdr_size, jd->unwinding_size);
 
 	if (jd->debug_data && jd->nr_debug_entries) {
-		free(jd->debug_data);
-		jd->debug_data = NULL;
+		zfree(&jd->debug_data);
 		jd->nr_debug_entries = 0;
 	}
 
 	if (jd->unwinding_data && jd->eh_frame_hdr_size) {
-		free(jd->unwinding_data);
-		jd->unwinding_data = NULL;
+		zfree(&jd->unwinding_data);
 		jd->eh_frame_hdr_size = 0;
 		jd->unwinding_mapped_size = 0;
 		jd->unwinding_size = 0;
diff --git a/tools/perf/util/llvm-utils.c b/tools/perf/util/llvm-utils.c
index 5b0b60f00275..9f0470ecbca9 100644
--- a/tools/perf/util/llvm-utils.c
+++ b/tools/perf/util/llvm-utils.c
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@
 #include <stdio.h>
 #include <stdlib.h>
 #include <linux/err.h>
+#include <linux/zalloc.h>
 #include "debug.h"
 #include "llvm-utils.h"
 #include "config.h"
@@ -352,8 +353,7 @@ void llvm__get_kbuild_opts(char **kbuild_dir, char **kbuild_include_opts)
 "     \toption in [llvm] to \"\" to suppress this detection.\n\n",
 			*kbuild_dir);
 
-		free(*kbuild_dir);
-		*kbuild_dir = NULL;
+		zfree(kbuild_dir);
 		goto errout;
 	}
 
diff --git a/tools/perf/util/machine.c b/tools/perf/util/machine.c
index 147ed85ea2bc..cf826eca3aaf 100644
--- a/tools/perf/util/machine.c
+++ b/tools/perf/util/machine.c
@@ -15,7 +15,6 @@
 #include "strlist.h"
 #include "thread.h"
 #include "vdso.h"
-#include "util.h"
 #include <stdbool.h>
 #include <sys/types.h>
 #include <sys/stat.h>
@@ -28,6 +27,7 @@
 #include <linux/ctype.h>
 #include <symbol/kallsyms.h>
 #include <linux/mman.h>
+#include <linux/zalloc.h>
 
 static void __machine__remove_thread(struct machine *machine, struct thread *th, bool lock);
 
@@ -810,7 +810,7 @@ struct map *machine__findnew_module_map(struct machine *machine, u64 start,
 out:
 	/* put the dso here, corresponding to  machine__findnew_module_dso */
 	dso__put(dso);
-	free(m.name);
+	zfree(&m.name);
 	return map;
 }
 
@@ -1350,7 +1350,7 @@ static int map_groups__set_modules_path_dir(struct map_groups *mg,
 			if (m.kmod)
 				ret = map_groups__set_module_path(mg, path, &m);
 
-			free(m.name);
+			zfree(&m.name);
 
 			if (ret)
 				goto out;
diff --git a/tools/perf/util/map.c b/tools/perf/util/map.c
index 6fce983c6115..668410b1d426 100644
--- a/tools/perf/util/map.c
+++ b/tools/perf/util/map.c
@@ -12,10 +12,10 @@
 #include "thread.h"
 #include "vdso.h"
 #include "build-id.h"
-#include "util.h"
 #include "debug.h"
 #include "machine.h"
 #include <linux/string.h>
+#include <linux/zalloc.h>
 #include "srcline.h"
 #include "namespaces.h"
 #include "unwind.h"
@@ -476,8 +476,11 @@ int map__fprintf_srccode(struct map *map, u64 addr,
 		goto out_free_line;
 
 	ret = fprintf(fp, "|%-8d %.*s", line, len, srccode);
-	state->srcfile = srcfile;
-	state->line = line;
+
+	if (state) {
+		state->srcfile = srcfile;
+		state->line = line;
+	}
 	return ret;
 
 out_free_line:
diff --git a/tools/perf/util/mem2node.c b/tools/perf/util/mem2node.c
index c6fd81c02586..cacc2fc4dcbd 100644
--- a/tools/perf/util/mem2node.c
+++ b/tools/perf/util/mem2node.c
@@ -1,8 +1,8 @@
 #include <errno.h>
 #include <inttypes.h>
 #include <linux/bitmap.h>
+#include <linux/zalloc.h>
 #include "mem2node.h"
-#include "util.h"
 
 struct phys_entry {
 	struct rb_node	rb_node;
diff --git a/tools/perf/util/metricgroup.c b/tools/perf/util/metricgroup.c
index d8164574cb16..416a9015405e 100644
--- a/tools/perf/util/metricgroup.c
+++ b/tools/perf/util/metricgroup.c
@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@
 #include "strlist.h"
 #include <assert.h>
 #include <linux/ctype.h>
+#include <linux/zalloc.h>
 
 struct metric_event *metricgroup__lookup(struct rblist *metric_events,
 					 struct perf_evsel *evsel,
@@ -235,7 +236,7 @@ static struct rb_node *mep_new(struct rblist *rl __maybe_unused,
 		goto out_name;
 	return &me->nd;
 out_name:
-	free((char *)me->name);
+	zfree(&me->name);
 out_me:
 	free(me);
 	return NULL;
@@ -263,7 +264,7 @@ static void mep_delete(struct rblist *rl __maybe_unused,
 	struct mep *me = container_of(nd, struct mep, nd);
 
 	strlist__delete(me->metrics);
-	free((void *)me->name);
+	zfree(&me->name);
 	free(me);
 }
 
@@ -489,8 +490,9 @@ static void metricgroup__free_egroups(struct list_head *group_list)
 
 	list_for_each_entry_safe (eg, egtmp, group_list, nd) {
 		for (i = 0; i < eg->idnum; i++)
-			free((char *)eg->ids[i]);
-		free(eg->ids);
+			zfree(&eg->ids[i]);
+		zfree(&eg->ids);
+		list_del_init(&eg->nd);
 		free(eg);
 	}
 }
diff --git a/tools/perf/util/mmap.c b/tools/perf/util/mmap.c
index 768c632b0d82..9f0b6391af33 100644
--- a/tools/perf/util/mmap.c
+++ b/tools/perf/util/mmap.c
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@
 #include <sys/mman.h>
 #include <inttypes.h>
 #include <asm/bug.h>
+#include <linux/zalloc.h>
 #ifdef HAVE_LIBNUMA_SUPPORT
 #include <numaif.h>
 #endif
diff --git a/tools/perf/util/namespaces.c b/tools/perf/util/namespaces.c
index 023c4efd788d..46d3a7754897 100644
--- a/tools/perf/util/namespaces.c
+++ b/tools/perf/util/namespaces.c
@@ -5,8 +5,8 @@
  */
 
 #include "namespaces.h"
-#include "util.h"
 #include "event.h"
+#include "get_current_dir_name.h"
 #include <sys/types.h>
 #include <sys/stat.h>
 #include <fcntl.h>
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@
 #include <string.h>
 #include <unistd.h>
 #include <asm/bug.h>
+#include <linux/zalloc.h>
 
 struct namespaces *namespaces__new(struct namespaces_event *event)
 {
diff --git a/tools/perf/util/namespaces.h b/tools/perf/util/namespaces.h
index 15a5a276c478..004430c0de93 100644
--- a/tools/perf/util/namespaces.h
+++ b/tools/perf/util/namespaces.h
@@ -13,6 +13,10 @@
 #include <linux/refcount.h>
 #include <linux/types.h>
 
+#ifndef HAVE_SETNS_SUPPORT
+int setns(int fd, int nstype);
+#endif
+
 struct namespaces_event;
 
 struct namespaces {
diff --git a/tools/perf/util/ordered-events.c b/tools/perf/util/ordered-events.c
index 989fed6f43b5..bb5f34b7ab44 100644
--- a/tools/perf/util/ordered-events.c
+++ b/tools/perf/util/ordered-events.c
@@ -138,7 +138,7 @@ static struct ordered_event *alloc_event(struct ordered_events *oe,
 
 	if (!list_empty(cache)) {
 		new = list_entry(cache->next, struct ordered_event, list);
-		list_del(&new->list);
+		list_del_init(&new->list);
 	} else if (oe->buffer) {
 		new = &oe->buffer->event[oe->buffer_idx];
 		if (++oe->buffer_idx == MAX_SAMPLE_BUFFER)
@@ -394,13 +394,13 @@ void ordered_events__free(struct ordered_events *oe)
 	 * yet, we need to free only allocated ones ...
 	 */
 	if (oe->buffer) {
-		list_del(&oe->buffer->list);
+		list_del_init(&oe->buffer->list);
 		ordered_events_buffer__free(oe->buffer, oe->buffer_idx, oe);
 	}
 
 	/* ... and continue with the rest */
 	list_for_each_entry_safe(buffer, tmp, &oe->to_free, list) {
-		list_del(&buffer->list);
+		list_del_init(&buffer->list);
 		ordered_events_buffer__free(buffer, MAX_SAMPLE_BUFFER, oe);
 	}
 }
diff --git a/tools/perf/util/parse-branch-options.c b/tools/perf/util/parse-branch-options.c
index bd779d9f4d1e..726e8d9e8c54 100644
--- a/tools/perf/util/parse-branch-options.c
+++ b/tools/perf/util/parse-branch-options.c
@@ -1,9 +1,9 @@
 // SPDX-License-Identifier: GPL-2.0
 #include "perf.h"
-#include "util/util.h"
 #include "util/debug.h"
 #include <subcmd/parse-options.h>
 #include "util/parse-branch-options.h"
+#include <stdlib.h>
 
 #define BRANCH_OPT(n, m) \
 	{ .name = n, .mode = (m) }
diff --git a/tools/perf/util/parse-events.c b/tools/perf/util/parse-events.c
index cf0b9b81c5aa..371ff3aee769 100644
--- a/tools/perf/util/parse-events.c
+++ b/tools/perf/util/parse-events.c
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 // SPDX-License-Identifier: GPL-2.0
 #include <linux/hw_breakpoint.h>
 #include <linux/err.h>
+#include <linux/zalloc.h>
 #include <dirent.h>
 #include <errno.h>
 #include <sys/ioctl.h>
@@ -651,7 +652,7 @@ static int add_bpf_event(const char *group, const char *event, int fd,
 		pr_debug("Failed to add BPF event %s:%s\n",
 			 group, event);
 		list_for_each_entry_safe(evsel, tmp, &new_evsels, node) {
-			list_del(&evsel->node);
+			list_del_init(&evsel->node);
 			perf_evsel__delete(evsel);
 		}
 		return err;
diff --git a/tools/perf/util/parse-events.y b/tools/perf/util/parse-events.y
index 6ad8d4914969..f1c36ed1cf36 100644
--- a/tools/perf/util/parse-events.y
+++ b/tools/perf/util/parse-events.y
@@ -480,7 +480,6 @@ event_bpf_file:
 PE_BPF_OBJECT opt_event_config
 {
 	struct parse_events_state *parse_state = _parse_state;
-	struct parse_events_error *error = parse_state->error;
 	struct list_head *list;
 
 	ALLOC_LIST(list);
@@ -626,7 +625,6 @@ PE_TERM
 PE_NAME array '=' PE_NAME
 {
 	struct parse_events_term *term;
-	int i;
 
 	ABORT_ON(parse_events_term__str(&term, PARSE_EVENTS__TERM_TYPE_USER,
 					$1, $4, &@1, &@4));
diff --git a/tools/perf/util/parse-regs-options.c b/tools/perf/util/parse-regs-options.c
index 08581e276225..ef46c2848808 100644
--- a/tools/perf/util/parse-regs-options.c
+++ b/tools/perf/util/parse-regs-options.c
@@ -1,8 +1,12 @@
 // SPDX-License-Identifier: GPL-2.0
-#include "perf.h"
-#include "util/util.h"
+#include <stdbool.h>
+#include <stdlib.h>
+#include <stdint.h>
+#include <string.h>
+#include <stdio.h>
 #include "util/debug.h"
 #include <subcmd/parse-options.h>
+#include "util/perf_regs.h"
 #include "util/parse-regs-options.h"
 
 static int
diff --git a/tools/perf/util/pmu.c b/tools/perf/util/pmu.c
index 55f4de6442e3..f32b710347db 100644
--- a/tools/perf/util/pmu.c
+++ b/tools/perf/util/pmu.c
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@
 #include <linux/list.h>
 #include <linux/compiler.h>
 #include <linux/string.h>
+#include <linux/zalloc.h>
 #include <sys/types.h>
 #include <errno.h>
 #include <fcntl.h>
@@ -14,7 +15,6 @@
 #include <api/fs/fs.h>
 #include <locale.h>
 #include <regex.h>
-#include "util.h"
 #include "pmu.h"
 #include "parse-events.h"
 #include "cpumap.h"
@@ -1245,7 +1245,7 @@ int perf_pmu__check_alias(struct perf_pmu *pmu, struct list_head *head_terms,
 		info->metric_expr = alias->metric_expr;
 		info->metric_name = alias->metric_name;
 
-		list_del(&term->list);
+		list_del_init(&term->list);
 		free(term);
 	}
 
diff --git a/tools/perf/util/probe-event.c b/tools/perf/util/probe-event.c
index 6f24eaf6e504..0c3b55d0617d 100644
--- a/tools/perf/util/probe-event.c
+++ b/tools/perf/util/probe-event.c
@@ -19,7 +19,6 @@
 #include <limits.h>
 #include <elf.h>
 
-#include "util.h"
 #include "event.h"
 #include "namespaces.h"
 #include "strlist.h"
@@ -40,6 +39,7 @@
 #include "string2.h"
 
 #include <linux/ctype.h>
+#include <linux/zalloc.h>
 
 #define PERFPROBE_GROUP "probe"
 
@@ -214,9 +214,9 @@ static int convert_exec_to_group(const char *exec, char **result)
 
 static void clear_perf_probe_point(struct perf_probe_point *pp)
 {
-	free(pp->file);
-	free(pp->function);
-	free(pp->lazy_line);
+	zfree(&pp->file);
+	zfree(&pp->function);
+	zfree(&pp->lazy_line);
 }
 
 static void clear_probe_trace_events(struct probe_trace_event *tevs, int ntevs)
@@ -1175,12 +1175,11 @@ int show_available_vars(struct perf_probe_event *pevs __maybe_unused,
 
 void line_range__clear(struct line_range *lr)
 {
-	free(lr->function);
-	free(lr->file);
-	free(lr->path);
-	free(lr->comp_dir);
+	zfree(&lr->function);
+	zfree(&lr->file);
+	zfree(&lr->path);
+	zfree(&lr->comp_dir);
 	intlist__delete(lr->line_list);
-	memset(lr, 0, sizeof(*lr));
 }
 
 int line_range__init(struct line_range *lr)
@@ -2203,15 +2202,15 @@ void clear_perf_probe_event(struct perf_probe_event *pev)
 	struct perf_probe_arg_field *field, *next;
 	int i;
 
-	free(pev->event);
-	free(pev->group);
-	free(pev->target);
+	zfree(&pev->event);
+	zfree(&pev->group);
+	zfree(&pev->target);
 	clear_perf_probe_point(&pev->point);
 
 	for (i = 0; i < pev->nargs; i++) {
-		free(pev->args[i].name);
-		free(pev->args[i].var);
-		free(pev->args[i].type);
+		zfree(&pev->args[i].name);
+		zfree(&pev->args[i].var);
+		zfree(&pev->args[i].type);
 		field = pev->args[i].field;
 		while (field) {
 			next = field->next;
@@ -2220,8 +2219,7 @@ void clear_perf_probe_event(struct perf_probe_event *pev)
 			field = next;
 		}
 	}
-	free(pev->args);
-	memset(pev, 0, sizeof(*pev));
+	zfree(&pev->args);
 }
 
 #define strdup_or_goto(str, label)	\
@@ -2302,15 +2300,15 @@ void clear_probe_trace_event(struct probe_trace_event *tev)
 	struct probe_trace_arg_ref *ref, *next;
 	int i;
 
-	free(tev->event);
-	free(tev->group);
-	free(tev->point.symbol);
-	free(tev->point.realname);
-	free(tev->point.module);
+	zfree(&tev->event);
+	zfree(&tev->group);
+	zfree(&tev->point.symbol);
+	zfree(&tev->point.realname);
+	zfree(&tev->point.module);
 	for (i = 0; i < tev->nargs; i++) {
-		free(tev->args[i].name);
-		free(tev->args[i].value);
-		free(tev->args[i].type);
+		zfree(&tev->args[i].name);
+		zfree(&tev->args[i].value);
+		zfree(&tev->args[i].type);
 		ref = tev->args[i].ref;
 		while (ref) {
 			next = ref->next;
@@ -2318,8 +2316,7 @@ void clear_probe_trace_event(struct probe_trace_event *tev)
 			ref = next;
 		}
 	}
-	free(tev->args);
-	memset(tev, 0, sizeof(*tev));
+	zfree(&tev->args);
 }
 
 struct kprobe_blacklist_node {
@@ -2336,8 +2333,8 @@ static void kprobe_blacklist__delete(struct list_head *blacklist)
 	while (!list_empty(blacklist)) {
 		node = list_first_entry(blacklist,
 					struct kprobe_blacklist_node, list);
-		list_del(&node->list);
-		free(node->symbol);
+		list_del_init(&node->list);
+		zfree(&node->symbol);
 		free(node);
 	}
 }
diff --git a/tools/perf/util/probe-file.c b/tools/perf/util/probe-file.c
index 0ed1900454eb..c2998f90b23c 100644
--- a/tools/perf/util/probe-file.c
+++ b/tools/perf/util/probe-file.c
@@ -10,8 +10,8 @@
 #include <sys/types.h>
 #include <sys/uio.h>
 #include <unistd.h>
+#include <linux/zalloc.h>
 #include "namespaces.h"
-#include "util.h"
 #include "event.h"
 #include "strlist.h"
 #include "strfilter.h"
diff --git a/tools/perf/util/probe-finder.c b/tools/perf/util/probe-finder.c
index 6b40cc691a2d..7d8c99734928 100644
--- a/tools/perf/util/probe-finder.c
+++ b/tools/perf/util/probe-finder.c
@@ -19,11 +19,11 @@
 #include <dwarf-regs.h>
 
 #include <linux/bitops.h>
+#include <linux/zalloc.h>
 #include "event.h"
 #include "dso.h"
 #include "debug.h"
 #include "intlist.h"
-#include "util.h"
 #include "strlist.h"
 #include "symbol.h"
 #include "probe-finder.h"
diff --git a/tools/perf/util/pstack.c b/tools/perf/util/pstack.c
index 797fe1ae2d2e..28de8a4c2ce8 100644
--- a/tools/perf/util/pstack.c
+++ b/tools/perf/util/pstack.c
@@ -5,10 +5,10 @@
  * (c) 2010 Arnaldo Carvalho de Melo <acme@redhat.com>
  */
 
-#include "util.h"
 #include "pstack.h"
 #include "debug.h"
 #include <linux/kernel.h>
+#include <linux/zalloc.h>
 #include <stdlib.h>
 
 struct pstack {
diff --git a/tools/perf/util/python-ext-sources b/tools/perf/util/python-ext-sources
index 2237bac9fadb..ceb8afdf9a89 100644
--- a/tools/perf/util/python-ext-sources
+++ b/tools/perf/util/python-ext-sources
@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@ util/namespaces.c
 ../lib/hweight.c
 ../lib/string.c
 ../lib/vsprintf.c
+../lib/zalloc.c
 util/thread_map.c
 util/util.c
 util/xyarray.c
diff --git a/tools/perf/util/s390-cpumsf.c b/tools/perf/util/s390-cpumsf.c
index 10d36d9b7909..83d2e149ef19 100644
--- a/tools/perf/util/s390-cpumsf.c
+++ b/tools/perf/util/s390-cpumsf.c
@@ -146,6 +146,7 @@
 #include <linux/types.h>
 #include <linux/bitops.h>
 #include <linux/log2.h>
+#include <linux/zalloc.h>
 
 #include <sys/stat.h>
 #include <sys/types.h>
@@ -156,7 +157,6 @@
 #include "evlist.h"
 #include "machine.h"
 #include "session.h"
-#include "util.h"
 #include "thread.h"
 #include "debug.h"
 #include "auxtrace.h"
@@ -756,7 +756,7 @@ static int s390_cpumsf_run_decoder(struct s390_cpumsf_queue *sfq,
 	 */
 	if (err) {
 		sfq->buffer = NULL;
-		list_del(&buffer->list);
+		list_del_init(&buffer->list);
 		auxtrace_buffer__free(buffer);
 		if (err > 0)		/* Buffer done, no error */
 			err = 0;
@@ -1044,7 +1044,7 @@ static void s390_cpumsf_free(struct perf_session *session)
 	auxtrace_heap__free(&sf->heap);
 	s390_cpumsf_free_queues(session);
 	session->auxtrace = NULL;
-	free(sf->logdir);
+	zfree(&sf->logdir);
 	free(sf);
 }
 
@@ -1101,8 +1101,7 @@ static int s390_cpumsf__config(const char *var, const char *value, void *cb)
 	if (rc == -1 || !S_ISDIR(stbuf.st_mode)) {
 		pr_err("Missing auxtrace log directory %s,"
 		       " continue with current directory...\n", value);
-		free(sf->logdir);
-		sf->logdir = NULL;
+		zfree(&sf->logdir);
 	}
 	return 1;
 }
@@ -1162,7 +1161,7 @@ int s390_cpumsf_process_auxtrace_info(union perf_event *event,
 	auxtrace_queues__free(&sf->queues);
 	session->auxtrace = NULL;
 err_free:
-	free(sf->logdir);
+	zfree(&sf->logdir);
 	free(sf);
 	return err;
 }
diff --git a/tools/perf/util/session.c b/tools/perf/util/session.c
index 54cf163347f7..d0fd6c614e68 100644
--- a/tools/perf/util/session.c
+++ b/tools/perf/util/session.c
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@
 #include <errno.h>
 #include <inttypes.h>
 #include <linux/kernel.h>
+#include <linux/zalloc.h>
 #include <traceevent/event-parse.h>
 #include <api/fs/fs.h>
 
@@ -18,7 +19,6 @@
 #include "session.h"
 #include "tool.h"
 #include "sort.h"
-#include "util.h"
 #include "cpumap.h"
 #include "perf_regs.h"
 #include "asm/bug.h"
@@ -1246,9 +1246,12 @@ static void dump_read(struct perf_evsel *evsel, union perf_event *event)
 		return;
 
 	printf(": %d %d %s %" PRIu64 "\n", event->read.pid, event->read.tid,
-	       evsel ? perf_evsel__name(evsel) : "FAIL",
+	       perf_evsel__name(evsel),
 	       event->read.value);
 
+	if (!evsel)
+		return;
+
 	read_format = evsel->attr.read_format;
 
 	if (read_format & PERF_FORMAT_TOTAL_TIME_ENABLED)
diff --git a/tools/perf/util/setns.c b/tools/perf/util/setns.c
index ce8fc290fce8..48f9c0af63b2 100644
--- a/tools/perf/util/setns.c
+++ b/tools/perf/util/setns.c
@@ -1,4 +1,6 @@
-#include "util.h"
+// SPDX-License-Identifier: LGPL-2.1
+
+#include "namespaces.h"
 #include <unistd.h>
 #include <sys/syscall.h>
 
diff --git a/tools/perf/util/srccode.c b/tools/perf/util/srccode.c
index 684b155c222a..adfcf1ff464c 100644
--- a/tools/perf/util/srccode.c
+++ b/tools/perf/util/srccode.c
@@ -4,7 +4,8 @@
  * Copyright (c) 2017, Intel Corporation.
  * Author: Andi Kleen
  */
-#include "linux/list.h"
+#include <linux/list.h>
+#include <linux/zalloc.h>
 #include <stdlib.h>
 #include <sys/mman.h>
 #include <sys/stat.h>
@@ -82,12 +83,12 @@ static void fill_lines(char **lines, int maxline, char *map, int maplen)
 
 static void free_srcfile(struct srcfile *sf)
 {
-	list_del(&sf->nd);
+	list_del_init(&sf->nd);
 	hlist_del(&sf->hash_nd);
 	map_total_sz -= sf->maplen;
 	munmap(sf->map, sf->maplen);
-	free(sf->lines);
-	free(sf->fn);
+	zfree(&sf->lines);
+	zfree(&sf->fn);
 	free(sf);
 	num_srcfiles--;
 }
@@ -153,7 +154,7 @@ static struct srcfile *find_srcfile(char *fn)
 out_map:
 	munmap(h->map, sz);
 out_fn:
-	free(h->fn);
+	zfree(&h->fn);
 out_h:
 	free(h);
 	return NULL;
diff --git a/tools/perf/util/srcline.c b/tools/perf/util/srcline.c
index dcad75daf5e4..6ccf6f6d09df 100644
--- a/tools/perf/util/srcline.c
+++ b/tools/perf/util/srcline.c
@@ -6,9 +6,9 @@
 
 #include <linux/kernel.h>
 #include <linux/string.h>
+#include <linux/zalloc.h>
 
 #include "util/dso.h"
-#include "util/util.h"
 #include "util/debug.h"
 #include "util/callchain.h"
 #include "util/symbol_conf.h"
diff --git a/tools/perf/util/stat-shadow.c b/tools/perf/util/stat-shadow.c
index cb891e5c2969..656065af4971 100644
--- a/tools/perf/util/stat-shadow.c
+++ b/tools/perf/util/stat-shadow.c
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@
 #include "evlist.h"
 #include "expr.h"
 #include "metricgroup.h"
+#include <linux/zalloc.h>
 
 /*
  * AGGR_GLOBAL: Use CPU 0
@@ -775,7 +776,7 @@ static void generic_metric(struct perf_stat_config *config,
 		print_metric(config, ctxp, NULL, NULL, "", 0);
 
 	for (i = 1; i < pctx.num_ids; i++)
-		free((void *)pctx.ids[i].name);
+		zfree(&pctx.ids[i].name);
 }
 
 void perf_stat__print_shadow_stats(struct perf_stat_config *config,
diff --git a/tools/perf/util/stat.c b/tools/perf/util/stat.c
index d91fe754b6d2..db8a6cf336be 100644
--- a/tools/perf/util/stat.c
+++ b/tools/perf/util/stat.c
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@
 #include "evlist.h"
 #include "evsel.h"
 #include "thread_map.h"
+#include <linux/zalloc.h>
 
 void update_stats(struct stats *stats, u64 val)
 {
@@ -132,7 +133,7 @@ static void perf_evsel__free_stat_priv(struct perf_evsel *evsel)
 	struct perf_stat_evsel *ps = evsel->stats;
 
 	if (ps)
-		free(ps->group_data);
+		zfree(&ps->group_data);
 	zfree(&evsel->stats);
 }
 
diff --git a/tools/perf/util/strbuf.c b/tools/perf/util/strbuf.c
index 23092fd6451d..2ce0dc887364 100644
--- a/tools/perf/util/strbuf.c
+++ b/tools/perf/util/strbuf.c
@@ -1,8 +1,9 @@
 // SPDX-License-Identifier: GPL-2.0
 #include "debug.h"
-#include "util.h"
 #include <linux/kernel.h>
+#include <linux/zalloc.h>
 #include <errno.h>
+#include <stdlib.h>
 
 /*
  * Used as the default ->buf value, so that people can always assume
diff --git a/tools/perf/util/strfilter.c b/tools/perf/util/strfilter.c
index 90ea2b209cbb..78aa4c3b990d 100644
--- a/tools/perf/util/strfilter.c
+++ b/tools/perf/util/strfilter.c
@@ -1,11 +1,12 @@
 // SPDX-License-Identifier: GPL-2.0
-#include "util.h"
 #include "string2.h"
 #include "strfilter.h"
 
 #include <errno.h>
+#include <stdlib.h>
 #include <linux/ctype.h>
 #include <linux/string.h>
+#include <linux/zalloc.h>
 
 /* Operators */
 static const char *OP_and	= "&";	/* Logical AND */
diff --git a/tools/perf/util/strlist.c b/tools/perf/util/strlist.c
index af45c6fd97db..8a868cbeffae 100644
--- a/tools/perf/util/strlist.c
+++ b/tools/perf/util/strlist.c
@@ -4,12 +4,12 @@
  */
 
 #include "strlist.h"
-#include "util.h"
 #include <errno.h>
 #include <stdio.h>
 #include <stdlib.h>
 #include <string.h>
 #include <unistd.h>
+#include <linux/zalloc.h>
 
 static
 struct rb_node *strlist__node_new(struct rblist *rblist, const void *entry)
diff --git a/tools/perf/util/svghelper.c b/tools/perf/util/svghelper.c
index fab8a048d31b..76cc54000483 100644
--- a/tools/perf/util/svghelper.c
+++ b/tools/perf/util/svghelper.c
@@ -15,10 +15,10 @@
 #include <string.h>
 #include <linux/bitmap.h>
 #include <linux/time64.h>
+#include <linux/zalloc.h>
 
 #include "perf.h"
 #include "svghelper.h"
-#include "util.h"
 #include "cpumap.h"
 
 static u64 first_time, last_time;
diff --git a/tools/perf/util/symbol-elf.c b/tools/perf/util/symbol-elf.c
index 62008756d8cc..7d504dc22108 100644
--- a/tools/perf/util/symbol-elf.c
+++ b/tools/perf/util/symbol-elf.c
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@
 #include <fcntl.h>
 #include <stdio.h>
 #include <errno.h>
+#include <stdlib.h>
 #include <string.h>
 #include <unistd.h>
 #include <inttypes.h>
@@ -16,6 +17,7 @@
 #include "debug.h"
 #include "util.h"
 #include <linux/ctype.h>
+#include <linux/zalloc.h>
 #include <symbol/kallsyms.h>
 
 #ifndef EM_AARCH64
@@ -1476,7 +1478,7 @@ static void kcore_copy__free_phdrs(struct kcore_copy_info *kci)
 	struct phdr_data *p, *tmp;
 
 	list_for_each_entry_safe(p, tmp, &kci->phdrs, node) {
-		list_del(&p->node);
+		list_del_init(&p->node);
 		free(p);
 	}
 }
@@ -1499,7 +1501,7 @@ static void kcore_copy__free_syms(struct kcore_copy_info *kci)
 	struct sym_data *s, *tmp;
 
 	list_for_each_entry_safe(s, tmp, &kci->syms, node) {
-		list_del(&s->node);
+		list_del_init(&s->node);
 		free(s);
 	}
 }
@@ -2131,11 +2133,11 @@ static int populate_sdt_note(Elf **elf, const char *data, size_t len,
 	return 0;
 
 out_free_args:
-	free(tmp->args);
+	zfree(&tmp->args);
 out_free_name:
-	free(tmp->name);
+	zfree(&tmp->name);
 out_free_prov:
-	free(tmp->provider);
+	zfree(&tmp->provider);
 out_free_note:
 	free(tmp);
 out_err:
@@ -2250,9 +2252,9 @@ int cleanup_sdt_note_list(struct list_head *sdt_notes)
 	int nr_free = 0;
 
 	list_for_each_entry_safe(pos, tmp, sdt_notes, note_list) {
-		list_del(&pos->note_list);
-		free(pos->name);
-		free(pos->provider);
+		list_del_init(&pos->note_list);
+		zfree(&pos->name);
+		zfree(&pos->provider);
 		free(pos);
 		nr_free++;
 	}
diff --git a/tools/perf/util/symbol-minimal.c b/tools/perf/util/symbol-minimal.c
index 17edbd4f6f85..3bc8b7e3300e 100644
--- a/tools/perf/util/symbol-minimal.c
+++ b/tools/perf/util/symbol-minimal.c
@@ -7,9 +7,10 @@
 #include <stdio.h>
 #include <fcntl.h>
 #include <string.h>
+#include <stdlib.h>
 #include <byteswap.h>
 #include <sys/stat.h>
-
+#include <linux/zalloc.h>
 
 static bool check_need_swap(int file_endian)
 {
diff --git a/tools/perf/util/symbol.c b/tools/perf/util/symbol.c
index ae2ce255e848..173f3378aaa0 100644
--- a/tools/perf/util/symbol.c
+++ b/tools/perf/util/symbol.c
@@ -26,6 +26,7 @@
 #include "header.h"
 #include "path.h"
 #include <linux/ctype.h>
+#include <linux/zalloc.h>
 
 #include <elf.h>
 #include <limits.h>
diff --git a/tools/perf/util/syscalltbl.c b/tools/perf/util/syscalltbl.c
index c2037ac533f3..022a9c670338 100644
--- a/tools/perf/util/syscalltbl.c
+++ b/tools/perf/util/syscalltbl.c
@@ -10,9 +10,9 @@
 #include <linux/compiler.h>
 
 #ifdef HAVE_SYSCALL_TABLE_SUPPORT
+#include <linux/zalloc.h>
 #include <string.h>
 #include "string2.h"
-#include "util.h"
 
 #if defined(__x86_64__)
 #include <asm/syscalls_64.c>
diff --git a/tools/perf/util/target.c b/tools/perf/util/target.c
index 3852d07c49bd..3adc65480349 100644
--- a/tools/perf/util/target.c
+++ b/tools/perf/util/target.c
@@ -10,9 +10,9 @@
 #include "debug.h"
 
 #include <pwd.h>
+#include <stdlib.h>
 #include <string.h>
 
-
 enum target_errno target__validate(struct target *target)
 {
 	enum target_errno ret = TARGET_ERRNO__SUCCESS;
diff --git a/tools/perf/util/thread-stack.c b/tools/perf/util/thread-stack.c
index 6ff1ff4d4ce7..15134ac9b8f1 100644
--- a/tools/perf/util/thread-stack.c
+++ b/tools/perf/util/thread-stack.c
@@ -7,12 +7,13 @@
 #include <linux/rbtree.h>
 #include <linux/list.h>
 #include <linux/log2.h>
+#include <linux/zalloc.h>
 #include <errno.h>
+#include <stdlib.h>
 #include "thread.h"
 #include "event.h"
 #include "machine.h"
 #include "env.h"
-#include "util.h"
 #include "debug.h"
 #include "symbol.h"
 #include "comm.h"
diff --git a/tools/perf/util/thread.c b/tools/perf/util/thread.c
index 3e29a4e8b5e6..873ab505ca80 100644
--- a/tools/perf/util/thread.c
+++ b/tools/perf/util/thread.c
@@ -5,10 +5,10 @@
 #include <stdio.h>
 #include <string.h>
 #include <linux/kernel.h>
+#include <linux/zalloc.h>
 #include "session.h"
 #include "thread.h"
 #include "thread-stack.h"
-#include "util.h"
 #include "debug.h"
 #include "namespaces.h"
 #include "comm.h"
@@ -93,14 +93,14 @@ void thread__delete(struct thread *thread)
 	down_write(&thread->namespaces_lock);
 	list_for_each_entry_safe(namespaces, tmp_namespaces,
 				 &thread->namespaces_list, list) {
-		list_del(&namespaces->list);
+		list_del_init(&namespaces->list);
 		namespaces__free(namespaces);
 	}
 	up_write(&thread->namespaces_lock);
 
 	down_write(&thread->comm_lock);
 	list_for_each_entry_safe(comm, tmp_comm, &thread->comm_list, list) {
-		list_del(&comm->list);
+		list_del_init(&comm->list);
 		comm__free(comm);
 	}
 	up_write(&thread->comm_lock);
diff --git a/tools/perf/util/thread_map.c b/tools/perf/util/thread_map.c
index 281bf06f10f2..5b3511f2b6b1 100644
--- a/tools/perf/util/thread_map.c
+++ b/tools/perf/util/thread_map.c
@@ -13,9 +13,9 @@
 #include <string.h>
 #include <api/fs/fs.h>
 #include <linux/string.h>
+#include <linux/zalloc.h>
 #include "asm/bug.h"
 #include "thread_map.h"
-#include "util.h"
 #include "debug.h"
 #include "event.h"
 
@@ -480,7 +480,7 @@ int thread_map__remove(struct thread_map *threads, int idx)
 	/*
 	 * Free the 'idx' item and shift the rest up.
 	 */
-	free(threads->map[idx].comm);
+	zfree(&threads->map[idx].comm);
 
 	for (i = idx; i < threads->nr - 1; i++)
 		threads->map[i] = threads->map[i + 1];
diff --git a/tools/perf/util/trace-event-info.c b/tools/perf/util/trace-event-info.c
index 806a11b334d3..4550015b9d5d 100644
--- a/tools/perf/util/trace-event-info.c
+++ b/tools/perf/util/trace-event-info.c
@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@
 #include <stdbool.h>
 #include <linux/list.h>
 #include <linux/kernel.h>
+#include <linux/zalloc.h>
 
 #include "../perf.h"
 #include "trace-event.h"
diff --git a/tools/perf/util/trace-event-scripting.c b/tools/perf/util/trace-event-scripting.c
index b023db136ef3..ba58f69777a1 100644
--- a/tools/perf/util/trace-event-scripting.c
+++ b/tools/perf/util/trace-event-scripting.c
@@ -12,8 +12,8 @@
 
 #include "../perf.h"
 #include "debug.h"
-#include "util.h"
 #include "trace-event.h"
+#include <linux/zalloc.h>
 
 struct scripting_context *scripting_context;
 
diff --git a/tools/perf/util/unwind-libdw.c b/tools/perf/util/unwind-libdw.c
index 407d0167b942..28f71ca6ce1c 100644
--- a/tools/perf/util/unwind-libdw.c
+++ b/tools/perf/util/unwind-libdw.c
@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@
 #include "symbol.h"
 #include "thread.h"
 #include <linux/types.h>
+#include <linux/zalloc.h>
 #include "event.h"
 #include "perf_regs.h"
 #include "callchain.h"
diff --git a/tools/perf/util/unwind-libunwind-local.c b/tools/perf/util/unwind-libunwind-local.c
index 25e1406b1f8b..71a788921b62 100644
--- a/tools/perf/util/unwind-libunwind-local.c
+++ b/tools/perf/util/unwind-libunwind-local.c
@@ -25,6 +25,7 @@
 #include <unistd.h>
 #include <sys/mman.h>
 #include <linux/list.h>
+#include <linux/zalloc.h>
 #ifndef REMOTE_UNWIND_LIBUNWIND
 #include <libunwind.h>
 #include <libunwind-ptrace.h>
@@ -345,7 +346,7 @@ static int read_unwind_spec_debug_frame(struct dso *dso,
 							__func__,
 							dso->symsrc_filename,
 							debuglink);
-					free(dso->symsrc_filename);
+					zfree(&dso->symsrc_filename);
 				}
 				dso->symsrc_filename = debuglink;
 			} else {
diff --git a/tools/perf/util/usage.c b/tools/perf/util/usage.c
index 070d25ceea6a..3949a60b00ae 100644
--- a/tools/perf/util/usage.c
+++ b/tools/perf/util/usage.c
@@ -9,6 +9,9 @@
  */
 #include "util.h"
 #include "debug.h"
+#include <stdio.h>
+#include <stdlib.h>
+#include <linux/compiler.h>
 
 static __noreturn void usage_builtin(const char *err)
 {
diff --git a/tools/perf/util/util.h b/tools/perf/util/util.h
index 125e215dd3d8..dc7a469921e9 100644
--- a/tools/perf/util/util.h
+++ b/tools/perf/util/util.h
@@ -9,8 +9,6 @@
 #include <fcntl.h>
 #include <stdbool.h>
 #include <stddef.h>
-#include <stdlib.h>
-#include <stdarg.h>
 #include <linux/compiler.h>
 #include <sys/types.h>
 
@@ -18,13 +16,6 @@
 void usage(const char *err) __noreturn;
 void die(const char *err, ...) __noreturn __printf(1, 2);
 
-static inline void *zalloc(size_t size)
-{
-	return calloc(1, size);
-}
-
-#define zfree(ptr) ({ free(*ptr); *ptr = NULL; })
-
 struct dirent;
 struct nsinfo;
 struct strlist;
@@ -59,18 +50,10 @@ int fetch_kernel_version(unsigned int *puint,
 
 const char *perf_tip(const char *dirpath);
 
-#ifndef HAVE_GET_CURRENT_DIR_NAME
-char *get_current_dir_name(void);
-#endif
-
 #ifndef HAVE_SCHED_GETCPU_SUPPORT
 int sched_getcpu(void);
 #endif
 
-#ifndef HAVE_SETNS_SUPPORT
-int setns(int fd, int nstype);
-#endif
-
 extern bool perf_singlethreaded;
 
 void perf_set_singlethreaded(void);
diff --git a/tools/perf/util/values.c b/tools/perf/util/values.c
index 4b7a303e4ba8..c59154e2d124 100644
--- a/tools/perf/util/values.c
+++ b/tools/perf/util/values.c
@@ -3,8 +3,8 @@
 #include <stdio.h>
 #include <stdlib.h>
 #include <errno.h>
+#include <linux/zalloc.h>
 
-#include "util.h"
 #include "values.h"
 #include "debug.h"
 
diff --git a/tools/perf/util/vdso.c b/tools/perf/util/vdso.c
index 5031b7b22bbd..7f427bab6c12 100644
--- a/tools/perf/util/vdso.c
+++ b/tools/perf/util/vdso.c
@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@
 #include "machine.h"
 #include "thread.h"
 #include "linux/string.h"
+#include <linux/zalloc.h>
 #include "debug.h"
 
 /*
diff --git a/tools/perf/util/xyarray.c b/tools/perf/util/xyarray.c
index dc95154f5646..86889ebc3514 100644
--- a/tools/perf/util/xyarray.c
+++ b/tools/perf/util/xyarray.c
@@ -1,8 +1,8 @@
 // SPDX-License-Identifier: GPL-2.0
 #include "xyarray.h"
-#include "util.h"
 #include <stdlib.h>
 #include <string.h>
+#include <linux/zalloc.h>
 
 struct xyarray *xyarray__new(int xlen, int ylen, size_t entry_size)
 {