diff --git a/tools/lib/traceevent/trace-seq.c b/tools/lib/traceevent/trace-seq.c
index e454a2c66cac..ec3bd16a5488 100644
--- a/tools/lib/traceevent/trace-seq.c
+++ b/tools/lib/traceevent/trace-seq.c
@@ -57,8 +57,11 @@ void trace_seq_init(struct trace_seq *s)
 	s->len = 0;
 	s->readpos = 0;
 	s->buffer_size = TRACE_SEQ_BUF_SIZE;
-	s->buffer = malloc_or_die(s->buffer_size);
-	s->state = TRACE_SEQ__GOOD;
+	s->buffer = malloc(s->buffer_size);
+	if (s->buffer != NULL)
+		s->state = TRACE_SEQ__GOOD;
+	else
+		s->state = TRACE_SEQ__MEM_ALLOC_FAILED;
 }
 
 /**