diff --git a/drivers/nvme/target/core.c b/drivers/nvme/target/core.c
index 25d62d867563..aafcbc424b7a 100644
--- a/drivers/nvme/target/core.c
+++ b/drivers/nvme/target/core.c
@@ -1126,7 +1126,8 @@ static void nvmet_start_ctrl(struct nvmet_ctrl *ctrl)
 	 * in case a host died before it enabled the controller.  Hence, simply
 	 * reset the keep alive timer when the controller is enabled.
 	 */
-	mod_delayed_work(system_wq, &ctrl->ka_work, ctrl->kato * HZ);
+	if (ctrl->kato)
+		mod_delayed_work(system_wq, &ctrl->ka_work, ctrl->kato * HZ);
 }
 
 static void nvmet_clear_ctrl(struct nvmet_ctrl *ctrl)