diff --git a/tools/perf/builtin-record.c b/tools/perf/builtin-record.c
index a6d887d97ceb..5b6a1d23efe5 100644
--- a/tools/perf/builtin-record.c
+++ b/tools/perf/builtin-record.c
@@ -1573,16 +1573,27 @@ static int __cmd_record(struct record *rec, int argc, const char **argv)
 			goto out_child;
 	}
 
+	err = -1;
 	if (!rec->no_buildid
 	    && !perf_header__has_feat(&session->header, HEADER_BUILD_ID)) {
 		pr_err("Couldn't generate buildids. "
 		       "Use --no-buildid to profile anyway.\n");
-		err = -1;
 		goto out_child;
 	}
 
-	if (!opts->no_bpf_event)
-		bpf_event__add_sb_event(&rec->sb_evlist, &session->header.env);
+	if (!opts->no_bpf_event) {
+		rec->sb_evlist = evlist__new();
+
+		if (rec->sb_evlist == NULL) {
+			pr_err("Couldn't create side band evlist.\n.");
+			goto out_child;
+		}
+
+		if (evlist__add_bpf_sb_event(rec->sb_evlist, &session->header.env)) {
+			pr_err("Couldn't ask for PERF_RECORD_BPF_EVENT side band events.\n.");
+			goto out_child;
+		}
+	}
 
 	if (perf_evlist__start_sb_thread(rec->sb_evlist, &rec->opts.target)) {
 		pr_debug("Couldn't start the BPF side band thread:\nBPF programs starting from now on won't be annotatable\n");
diff --git a/tools/perf/builtin-top.c b/tools/perf/builtin-top.c
index 70e1c732db6a..de24aced7213 100644
--- a/tools/perf/builtin-top.c
+++ b/tools/perf/builtin-top.c
@@ -1742,8 +1742,19 @@ int cmd_top(int argc, const char **argv)
 		goto out_delete_evlist;
 	}
 
-	if (!top.record_opts.no_bpf_event)
-		bpf_event__add_sb_event(&top.sb_evlist, &perf_env);
+	if (!top.record_opts.no_bpf_event) {
+		top.sb_evlist = evlist__new();
+
+		if (top.sb_evlist == NULL) {
+			pr_err("Couldn't create side band evlist.\n.");
+			goto out_delete_evlist;
+		}
+
+		if (evlist__add_bpf_sb_event(top.sb_evlist, &perf_env)) {
+			pr_err("Couldn't ask for PERF_RECORD_BPF_EVENT side band events.\n.");
+			goto out_delete_evlist;
+		}
+	}
 
 	if (perf_evlist__start_sb_thread(top.sb_evlist, target)) {
 		pr_debug("Couldn't start the BPF side band thread:\nBPF programs starting from now on won't be annotatable\n");
diff --git a/tools/perf/util/bpf-event.c b/tools/perf/util/bpf-event.c
index 0cd41a862952..3742511a08d1 100644
--- a/tools/perf/util/bpf-event.c
+++ b/tools/perf/util/bpf-event.c
@@ -509,8 +509,7 @@ static int bpf_event__sb_cb(union perf_event *event, void *data)
 	return 0;
 }
 
-int bpf_event__add_sb_event(struct evlist **evlist,
-			    struct perf_env *env)
+int evlist__add_bpf_sb_event(struct evlist *evlist, struct perf_env *env)
 {
 	struct perf_event_attr attr = {
 		.type	          = PERF_TYPE_SOFTWARE,
diff --git a/tools/perf/util/bpf-event.h b/tools/perf/util/bpf-event.h
index 81fdc88e6c1a..68f315c3df5b 100644
--- a/tools/perf/util/bpf-event.h
+++ b/tools/perf/util/bpf-event.h
@@ -33,8 +33,7 @@ struct btf_node {
 #ifdef HAVE_LIBBPF_SUPPORT
 int machine__process_bpf(struct machine *machine, union perf_event *event,
 			 struct perf_sample *sample);
-int bpf_event__add_sb_event(struct evlist **evlist,
-				 struct perf_env *env);
+int evlist__add_bpf_sb_event(struct evlist *evlist, struct perf_env *env);
 void bpf_event__print_bpf_prog_info(struct bpf_prog_info *info,
 				    struct perf_env *env,
 				    FILE *fp);
@@ -46,8 +45,8 @@ static inline int machine__process_bpf(struct machine *machine __maybe_unused,
 	return 0;
 }
 
-static inline int bpf_event__add_sb_event(struct evlist **evlist __maybe_unused,
-					  struct perf_env *env __maybe_unused)
+static inline int evlist__add_bpf_sb_event(struct evlist *evlist __maybe_unused,
+					   struct perf_env *env __maybe_unused)
 {
 	return 0;
 }
diff --git a/tools/perf/util/evlist.c b/tools/perf/util/evlist.c
index 3f7e7d5f008b..6fe11f4d856a 100644
--- a/tools/perf/util/evlist.c
+++ b/tools/perf/util/evlist.c
@@ -1705,39 +1705,26 @@ struct evsel *perf_evlist__reset_weak_group(struct evlist *evsel_list,
 	return leader;
 }
 
-int perf_evlist__add_sb_event(struct evlist **evlist,
+int perf_evlist__add_sb_event(struct evlist *evlist,
 			      struct perf_event_attr *attr,
 			      perf_evsel__sb_cb_t cb,
 			      void *data)
 {
 	struct evsel *evsel;
-	bool new_evlist = (*evlist) == NULL;
-
-	if (*evlist == NULL)
-		*evlist = evlist__new();
-	if (*evlist == NULL)
-		return -1;
 
 	if (!attr->sample_id_all) {
 		pr_warning("enabling sample_id_all for all side band events\n");
 		attr->sample_id_all = 1;
 	}
 
-	evsel = perf_evsel__new_idx(attr, (*evlist)->core.nr_entries);
+	evsel = perf_evsel__new_idx(attr, evlist->core.nr_entries);
 	if (!evsel)
-		goto out_err;
+		return -1;
 
 	evsel->side_band.cb = cb;
 	evsel->side_band.data = data;
-	evlist__add(*evlist, evsel);
+	evlist__add(evlist, evsel);
 	return 0;
-
-out_err:
-	if (new_evlist) {
-		evlist__delete(*evlist);
-		*evlist = NULL;
-	}
-	return -1;
 }
 
 static void *perf_evlist__poll_thread(void *arg)
diff --git a/tools/perf/util/evlist.h b/tools/perf/util/evlist.h
index 48622e593972..a9d01a11570a 100644
--- a/tools/perf/util/evlist.h
+++ b/tools/perf/util/evlist.h
@@ -107,7 +107,7 @@ int __perf_evlist__add_default_attrs(struct evlist *evlist,
 
 int perf_evlist__add_dummy(struct evlist *evlist);
 
-int perf_evlist__add_sb_event(struct evlist **evlist,
+int perf_evlist__add_sb_event(struct evlist *evlist,
 			      struct perf_event_attr *attr,
 			      perf_evsel__sb_cb_t cb,
 			      void *data);