diff --git a/drivers/thermal/thermal_helpers.c b/drivers/thermal/thermal_helpers.c
index c65cdce8f856e..fca0b23570f96 100644
--- a/drivers/thermal/thermal_helpers.c
+++ b/drivers/thermal/thermal_helpers.c
@@ -115,7 +115,12 @@ int thermal_zone_get_temp(struct thermal_zone_device *tz, int *temp)
 	int ret;
 
 	mutex_lock(&tz->lock);
-	ret = __thermal_zone_get_temp(tz, temp);
+
+	if (device_is_registered(&tz->device))
+		ret = __thermal_zone_get_temp(tz, temp);
+	else
+		ret = -ENODEV;
+
 	mutex_unlock(&tz->lock);
 
 	return ret;