diff --git a/kernel/time/tick-broadcast.c b/kernel/time/tick-broadcast.c
index ef77b16ad5df..fad3f789beec 100644
--- a/kernel/time/tick-broadcast.c
+++ b/kernel/time/tick-broadcast.c
@@ -692,6 +692,13 @@ int __tick_broadcast_oneshot_control(enum tick_broadcast_state state)
 	int cpu, ret = 0;
 	ktime_t now;
 
+	/*
+	 * If there is no broadcast device, tell the caller not to go
+	 * into deep idle.
+	 */
+	if (!tick_broadcast_device.evtdev)
+		return -EBUSY;
+
 	/*
 	 * Periodic mode does not care about the enter/exit of power
 	 * states