diff --git a/sched/wqueue/kwork_queue.c b/sched/wqueue/kwork_queue.c
index a4a349951f5fc..dbcc1b419b55d 100644
--- a/sched/wqueue/kwork_queue.c
+++ b/sched/wqueue/kwork_queue.c
@@ -84,7 +84,7 @@ static int work_qqueue(FAR struct kwork_wqueue_s *wqueue,
 
   /* Preserve regular queue timing across lock contention. */
 
-  if (!period)
+  if (!period && delay > 0)
     {
       expected = clock_delay2abstick(delay);
     }