diff --git a/tools/perf/util/thread.c b/tools/perf/util/thread.c
index cd8e2f592719..49eaf1d7d89d 100644
--- a/tools/perf/util/thread.c
+++ b/tools/perf/util/thread.c
@@ -70,14 +70,13 @@ int thread__set_comm(struct thread *thread, const char *str, u64 timestamp)
 	/* Override latest entry if it had no specific time coverage */
 	if (!curr->start) {
 		comm__override(curr, str, timestamp);
-		return 0;
+	} else {
+		new = comm__new(str, timestamp);
+		if (!new)
+			return -ENOMEM;
+		list_add(&new->list, &thread->comm_list);
 	}
 
-	new = comm__new(str, timestamp);
-	if (!new)
-		return -ENOMEM;
-
-	list_add(&new->list, &thread->comm_list);
 	thread->comm_set = true;
 
 	return 0;