diff --git a/drivers/pwm/pwm-lpc18xx-sct.c b/drivers/pwm/pwm-lpc18xx-sct.c
index 9163085101bc..9861fed4e67d 100644
--- a/drivers/pwm/pwm-lpc18xx-sct.c
+++ b/drivers/pwm/pwm-lpc18xx-sct.c
@@ -360,6 +360,11 @@ static int lpc18xx_pwm_probe(struct platform_device *pdev)
 	}
 
 	lpc18xx_pwm->clk_rate = clk_get_rate(lpc18xx_pwm->pwm_clk);
+	if (!lpc18xx_pwm->clk_rate) {
+		dev_err(&pdev->dev, "pwm clock has no frequency\n");
+		ret = -EINVAL;
+		goto disable_pwmclk;
+	}
 
 	mutex_init(&lpc18xx_pwm->res_lock);
 	mutex_init(&lpc18xx_pwm->period_lock);