diff --git a/hw/core/ptimer.c b/hw/core/ptimer.c
index c6d2beb1da..2aa97cb665 100644
--- a/hw/core/ptimer.c
+++ b/hw/core/ptimer.c
@@ -117,6 +117,10 @@ static void ptimer_reload(ptimer_state *s, int delta_adjust)
     }
 
     if (delta == 0) {
+        if (s->enabled == 0) {
+            /* trigger callback disabled the timer already */
+            return;
+        }
         if (!qtest_enabled()) {
             fprintf(stderr, "Timer with delta zero, disabling\n");
         }