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/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-stat.c b/tools/perf/builtin-stat.c
index c72f4a0831a8..b55a534b4de0 100644
--- a/tools/perf/builtin-stat.c
+++ b/tools/perf/builtin-stat.c
@@ -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/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/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/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/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/util/annotate.c b/tools/perf/util/annotate.c
index 944a6507a5e3..ef0e6028684c 100644
--- a/tools/perf/util/annotate.c
+++ b/tools/perf/util/annotate.c
@@ -1235,8 +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);
 }
 
diff --git a/tools/perf/util/auxtrace.c b/tools/perf/util/auxtrace.c
index 0812a11a0dbe..b033a43dfe3b 100644
--- a/tools/perf/util/auxtrace.c
+++ b/tools/perf/util/auxtrace.c
@@ -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/cgroup.c b/tools/perf/util/cgroup.c
index f505d78f059b..484c29830a81 100644
--- a/tools/perf/util/cgroup.c
+++ b/tools/perf/util/cgroup.c
@@ -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/cputopo.c b/tools/perf/util/cputopo.c
index fa1778aee5d6..64336a280967 100644
--- a/tools/perf/util/cputopo.c
+++ b/tools/perf/util/cputopo.c
@@ -344,7 +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.c b/tools/perf/util/cs-etm.c
index d92516edbead..508e4a3ddc8c 100644
--- a/tools/perf/util/cs-etm.c
+++ b/tools/perf/util/cs-etm.c
@@ -555,8 +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)
@@ -2569,7 +2568,7 @@ err_free_etm:
 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 1e93f2e94c40..ddbcd59f2d9b 100644
--- a/tools/perf/util/data-convert-bt.c
+++ b/tools/perf/util/data-convert-bt.c
@@ -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 df7e000e19ea..1d1b97a92c3f 100644
--- a/tools/perf/util/data.c
+++ b/tools/perf/util/data.c
@@ -21,7 +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/env.c b/tools/perf/util/env.c
index f92d992bd2db..9909ec40c6d2 100644
--- a/tools/perf/util/env.c
+++ b/tools/perf/util/env.c
@@ -187,7 +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);
 }
 
@@ -287,9 +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 7524bda5140b..f1f4848947ce 100644
--- a/tools/perf/util/event.c
+++ b/tools/perf/util/event.c
@@ -856,7 +856,7 @@ free_threads:
 	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/header.c b/tools/perf/util/header.c
index 4e2efaa50c2f..c24db7f4909c 100644
--- a/tools/perf/util/header.c
+++ b/tools/perf/util/header.c
@@ -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/hist.c b/tools/perf/util/hist.c
index bb1d77331add..9b0ee0ef0f44 100644
--- a/tools/perf/util/hist.c
+++ b/tools/perf/util/hist.c
@@ -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 @@ err_infos:
 	}
 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);
 }
 
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 b9fddb809d58..9f0470ecbca9 100644
--- a/tools/perf/util/llvm-utils.c
+++ b/tools/perf/util/llvm-utils.c
@@ -353,8 +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 f523da3009e4..cf826eca3aaf 100644
--- a/tools/perf/util/machine.c
+++ b/tools/perf/util/machine.c
@@ -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/metricgroup.c b/tools/perf/util/metricgroup.c
index d8164574cb16..0d8c840f88c0 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 +490,8 @@ 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);
 		free(eg);
 	}
 }
diff --git a/tools/perf/util/probe-event.c b/tools/perf/util/probe-event.c
index 80c0eca0f1ee..0a57b316c4dd 100644
--- a/tools/perf/util/probe-event.c
+++ b/tools/perf/util/probe-event.c
@@ -214,9 +214,9 @@ out:
 
 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 {
@@ -2337,7 +2334,7 @@ static void kprobe_blacklist__delete(struct list_head *blacklist)
 		node = list_first_entry(blacklist,
 					struct kprobe_blacklist_node, list);
 		list_del(&node->list);
-		free(node->symbol);
+		zfree(&node->symbol);
 		free(node);
 	}
 }
diff --git a/tools/perf/util/s390-cpumsf.c b/tools/perf/util/s390-cpumsf.c
index ea669702825d..cca9cb851d02 100644
--- a/tools/perf/util/s390-cpumsf.c
+++ b/tools/perf/util/s390-cpumsf.c
@@ -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 @@ err_free_queues:
 	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/srccode.c b/tools/perf/util/srccode.c
index 684b155c222a..688a85a3d454 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>
@@ -86,8 +87,8 @@ static void free_srcfile(struct srcfile *sf)
 	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/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 c967715c1d4c..db8a6cf336be 100644
--- a/tools/perf/util/stat.c
+++ b/tools/perf/util/stat.c
@@ -133,7 +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/symbol-elf.c b/tools/perf/util/symbol-elf.c
index ad683fbe9678..1d5447594f5d 100644
--- a/tools/perf/util/symbol-elf.c
+++ b/tools/perf/util/symbol-elf.c
@@ -2133,11 +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:
@@ -2253,8 +2253,8 @@ int cleanup_sdt_note_list(struct list_head *sdt_notes)
 
 	list_for_each_entry_safe(pos, tmp, sdt_notes, note_list) {
 		list_del(&pos->note_list);
-		free(pos->name);
-		free(pos->provider);
+		zfree(&pos->name);
+		zfree(&pos->provider);
 		free(pos);
 		nr_free++;
 	}
diff --git a/tools/perf/util/thread_map.c b/tools/perf/util/thread_map.c
index c291874352cf..5b3511f2b6b1 100644
--- a/tools/perf/util/thread_map.c
+++ b/tools/perf/util/thread_map.c
@@ -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/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 {