diff --git a/kernel/timer.c b/kernel/timer.c
index 55760c05325..900e88e2a8c 100644
--- a/kernel/timer.c
+++ b/kernel/timer.c
@@ -126,7 +126,9 @@ void z_impl_k_timer_start(struct k_timer *timer, k_timeout_t duration,
 	 * argument the same way k_sleep() does), but historical.  The
 	 * timer_api test relies on this behavior.
 	 */
-	period.ticks = MAX(period.ticks - 1, 0);
+	if (period.ticks != 0 && Z_TICK_ABS(period.ticks) < 0) {
+		period.ticks = MAX(period.ticks - 1, 1);
+	}
 	if (Z_TICK_ABS(duration.ticks) < 0) {
 		duration.ticks = MAX(duration.ticks - 1, 0);
 	}