diff --git a/samples/ftrace/sample-trace-array.c b/samples/ftrace/sample-trace-array.c
index 9e437f930280..6aba02a31c96 100644
--- a/samples/ftrace/sample-trace-array.c
+++ b/samples/ftrace/sample-trace-array.c
@@ -115,8 +115,12 @@ static int __init sample_trace_array_init(void)
 	trace_printk_init_buffers();
 
 	simple_tsk = kthread_run(simple_thread, NULL, "sample-instance");
-	if (IS_ERR(simple_tsk))
+	if (IS_ERR(simple_tsk)) {
+		trace_array_put(tr);
+		trace_array_destroy(tr);
 		return -1;
+	}
+
 	return 0;
 }