diff --git a/arch/nios2/kernel/time.c b/arch/nios2/kernel/time.c
index 645129aaa9a0..20e86209ef2e 100644
--- a/arch/nios2/kernel/time.c
+++ b/arch/nios2/kernel/time.c
@@ -107,7 +107,10 @@ static struct nios2_clocksource nios2_cs = {
 
 cycles_t get_cycles(void)
 {
-	return nios2_timer_read(&nios2_cs.cs);
+	/* Only read timer if it has been initialized */
+	if (nios2_cs.timer.base)
+		return nios2_timer_read(&nios2_cs.cs);
+	return 0;
 }
 EXPORT_SYMBOL(get_cycles);