diff --git a/tools/perf/util/parse-events.c b/tools/perf/util/parse-events.c
index 422ad1888e74f..759a99f723fc3 100644
--- a/tools/perf/util/parse-events.c
+++ b/tools/perf/util/parse-events.c
@@ -370,7 +370,7 @@ static int add_event_tool(struct list_head *list, int *idx,
 		return -ENOMEM;
 	evsel->tool_event = tool_event;
 	if (tool_event == PERF_TOOL_DURATION_TIME)
-		evsel->unit = strdup("ns");
+		evsel->unit = "ns";
 	return 0;
 }