diff --git a/tools/verification/rv/src/in_kernel.c b/tools/verification/rv/src/in_kernel.c
index ced72950cb1e..64ae847313f6 100644
--- a/tools/verification/rv/src/in_kernel.c
+++ b/tools/verification/rv/src/in_kernel.c
@@ -655,7 +655,7 @@ int ikm_run_monitor(char *monitor_name, int argc, char **argv)
 	if (config_trace) {
 		inst = ikm_setup_trace_instance(monitor_name);
 		if (!inst)
-			return -1;
+			goto out_free_instance;
 	}
 
 	retval = ikm_enable(monitor_name);