diff --git a/kernel/timer.c b/kernel/timer.c
index b88c5dcc4e6..8bdff9a590d 100644
--- a/kernel/timer.c
+++ b/kernel/timer.c
@@ -126,7 +126,8 @@ 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.
 	 */
-	if (period.ticks != 0 && Z_TICK_ABS(period.ticks) < 0) {
+	if (!K_TIMEOUT_EQ(period, K_FOREVER) && period.ticks != 0 &&
+	    Z_TICK_ABS(period.ticks) < 0) {
 		period.ticks = MAX(period.ticks - 1, 1);
 	}
 	if (Z_TICK_ABS(duration.ticks) < 0) {