* Let the child rip
         */
        if (forks) {
-               union perf_event event;
+               union perf_event *event;
+
+               event = malloc(sizeof(event->comm) + machine->id_hdr_size);
+               if (event == NULL) {
+                       err = -ENOMEM;
+                       goto out_child;
+               }
+
                /*
                 * Some H/W events are generated before COMM event
                 * which is emitted during exec(), so perf script
                 * cannot see a correct process name for those events.
                 * Synthesize COMM event to prevent it.
                 */
-               perf_event__synthesize_comm(tool, &event,
+               perf_event__synthesize_comm(tool, event,
                                            rec->evlist->workload.pid,
                                            process_synthesized_event,
                                            machine);
+               free(event);
 
                perf_evlist__start_workload(rec->evlist);
        }