diff --git a/drivers/rtc/rtc-pcf85063.c b/drivers/rtc/rtc-pcf85063.c
index efb0a08ac117..a06dff994c83 100644
--- a/drivers/rtc/rtc-pcf85063.c
+++ b/drivers/rtc/rtc-pcf85063.c
@@ -191,12 +191,19 @@ static int pcf85063_probe(struct i2c_client *client,
 				const struct i2c_device_id *id)
 {
 	struct rtc_device *rtc;
+	int err;
 
 	dev_dbg(&client->dev, "%s\n", __func__);
 
 	if (!i2c_check_functionality(client->adapter, I2C_FUNC_I2C))
 		return -ENODEV;
 
+	err = i2c_smbus_read_byte_data(client, PCF85063_REG_CTRL1);
+	if (err < 0) {
+		dev_err(&client->dev, "RTC chip is not present\n");
+		return err;
+	}
+
 	rtc = devm_rtc_device_register(&client->dev,
 				       pcf85063_driver.driver.name,
 				       &pcf85063_rtc_ops, THIS_MODULE);