diff --git a/drivers/oprofile/oprofile_perf.c b/drivers/oprofile/oprofile_perf.c
index ebb40cb..f3d3df2 100644
--- a/drivers/oprofile/oprofile_perf.c
+++ b/drivers/oprofile/oprofile_perf.c
@@ -84,6 +84,7 @@ static int op_create_counter(int cpu, int event)
 	if (IS_ERR(pevent)) {
 		ret = PTR_ERR(pevent);
 	} else if (pevent->state != PERF_EVENT_STATE_ACTIVE) {
+		perf_event_release_kernel(pevent);
 		pr_warning("oprofile: failed to enable event %d "
 				"on CPU %d\n", event, cpu);
 		ret = -EBUSY;